Discover Benicolet: Riuraus, Culture and Landscape

Benicolet combines the riuraus with the tradition of the Escalda de la Pasa. This is complemented by a festival in September, Valencian traditional ball games, historical monuments, scenic destinations in the surrounding area and seasonal agricultural produce. The various places and themes give the visit a broad cultural and scenic character.

Culture and Tradition

The riuraus in Benicolet are structures connected with the tradition of the Escalda de la Pasa. This tradition refers to a 19th-century process for producing Muscat raisins. The term therefore refers not only to a type of structure but also to a historical agricultural context.

Every September, the Escalda de la Pasa festival takes place. The programme includes music, workshops, gastronomy and cultural activities. The clearly defined festival date complements the year-round visible links to the history of Muscat raisins with a recurring event featuring several programme areas.

Games of Valencian traditional ball (pilota valenciana) may take place on d’en Mig Street. The Monument to the Poassa commemorates a former communal watering place for livestock. Both references relate to different historical and cultural aspects of the town: a Valencian game stands alongside a monument commemorating a former communal use.

The Museu Faller is a museum in the area surrounding Benicolet. In the wider regional area are the Palacio Ducal and the Palau Ducal Dels Borja, two palaces. The Castillo de Xàtiva, a castle, is also located in this wider regional area. Thus, the cultural destinations mentioned range from a museum in the nearby area to palaces and a castle in the wider regional area.

Landscape and Water

Font Vella was formerly used for washing clothes and collecting water for domestic use. As a recreational area, it has been restored and equipped with tables and fire pits for grilling and preparing paellas. This place therefore combines a former everyday function with a present-day design that explicitly includes tables and fire pits for grilling and preparing paellas.

La Cuta is a mountain in the area surrounding Benicolet. Presa is a waterfall in the area surrounding Benicolet. La Safor and La Picadura are also mountains in the area surrounding Benicolet. The landscape references thus name three mountains and one waterfall; the different types of destinations remain clear, as does their shared connection with the area surrounding Benicolet.

Local Produce

Benicolet’s local products include seasonal agricultural produce. The seasonal character complements the historical references to the riuraus and the Escalda de la Pasa with a contemporary reference to the town’s agricultural production.

Further Places

Chera, Puig, Llutxent, Chiva, Carlet, Campo Olivar, Quatretonda, Turís

For the higher-level travel overview: Valencia.