Bocairent - Valencia - Spain

Description:

The Muslims called the city Bekirén, because of the dominant architectural style in the town which used the form of beehives.

 

Today Bocairent continues to project a peculiar image, its streets are seeped in centuries of history, the inhabitants have a commendable respect for their traditions and it is located in an enviable environment, with the Sierra Mariola as its principal neighbour.

 

A sculpture welcomes visitors to the locality, an image of a man with a blanket over his shoulders, a tradition still held by the people of Bekirén. Steep slopes, abundant vegetation, and the sources of two rivers, the Vinalopó and the Clariano, have marked the structure of the towns' nucleus, which has been moulded respecting the natural environment.

 

Many of the houses and some of its monuments, even modern ones, are excavated from the surrounding rock.

 

From the N-340 take the N-430 and then the CV - 81 from Ontinyent to Bocairent.

 

Situation and some Facts

 

Bocairent is located 95 km away to the south of Valencia, the capital City and 90 km away from Alicante. It is placed at the foot of the Sierra de Marola, placed at 660 metres above sea level and its population does not reach 5.000 inhabitants. The town, which belongs to the region of La Vall D' Albaida, had a territorial extension of 97,34 square km and here, the Clariano and the Vinalopo rivers are born.

 

The industrial activity of Bocairent is traditionally textile but in the last decade it has diversified to another services such as metal, carpentry and industrial.

History

The peculiar orographical situation of Bocairent has created a favourable atmosphere for the development of different cultures throughout the history. It has been found human remain settlements of the Neolithic period in theVinalopo and Sarsa caves, and also many Iberian villages placed in small hillocks of the zone. Also, the Roman people leave their trace in some villas spread in the countryside.

The Islamic period was one of the most flourishing and it has left an important legate. The traditional music, the gastronomy, the feasts and some traditions are some examples of this legate. In 1245 the town form a part of the Aragon Crown. In 1418 was declared Royal Villa and in 1587 Felipe II granted the title of Royal Cloth Factory that assigned Bocairent the Privilege Book, that means, the corporate regulation of the textile activities, activity that has developed till nowadays.

Medieval Town

The visit of the old part of Bocairent, renowned in its entirety by its wealth of historic and artistic treasures, is essential, especially after gazing at its stunning general view. It has got a peculiar physiognomy of the streets, showing the Arabian life-style, with ascents and descents, steps, turns, small squares, blind alleys ...

A walk, with the appropriate footwear, by the steep and quiet streets, that you will discover corners of great beauty. Fountains and pots of flowers embellish the route, that can lead us to some of the three hermitages of the old part of Bocairent: Sant Joan, Mare de Deu D' Agost and Mare de Deu dels Desemparats. There is a sign posted route, The Magic Route, that encloses the perimeter of the medieval town.

Museums and monuments

COVETES DELS MOROS

It is a monument formed by a group of artificial caves with holes like windows, situated in the middle of a vertical rock wall, at 300m, roughly, of the urban centre. It has got, approximately, 50 windows, that enter to another 50 rooms. The windows are lined up in three levels but without forming regular "floors". There have been many interpretations about the use of these caves: funeral chambers of antique epochs, granaries, visigothic monasteries ... They form part of a precise moment, maybe among the X-XI centuries.

CAVA DE SANT BlAI

It is placed in the north side of the Medieval town. It was used as snow store, like many others found in the Mariola Mountain. Through an underground gallery excavated in the rock, there is an entrance to the circular area where people stored the ice. Nowadays, inside it there is an exhibition of six illustrative panels with the ice and snow history from the beginnings till nowadays, moreover, there is a situational map of all the snow stores found in the area.

BULLRING

This bullring is unique because it is totally excavated in the rock, from the row till the refuges, bull pens and bull yards. It is the oldest bullring of the Valencian Community, dated in 1843, and one of the most original of Spain with a capacity of 3760 localities.

PAROCHIAL CHURCH NTRA. SENORA DE LA ASUNCION

It was built on the antique Arabian castle of Bekiren and consecrated in 1516, it was originally made in the gothic style and later adapted to the baroque one
of the epoch. In this church, is combined the main characteristics of the Valencian art, from the Gothic one till the XIX century. It has got pictures of Juan de juanes, Segrelles and Sorolla, among others, and a processional cross from the X century. The baptismal font, antique public fountain from the XV century, is built in stone and it is held up with a Gothic base .

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

It has got a wide variety of pieces dated between the Superior Paleolithic and the Middle Ages period. Many of the pieces are from the Sarsa Cave

(placed in the Mariola Mountain), one of the most important sites of the Neolithic of the whole Mediterranean. It is exhibited the copy of the Iberian lion of Bocairent from the V-VI century before Christ an a scale model of the "Covetes dels Moros" inner part .

MOOR AND CHRISTIAN MUSEUM

In this museum is gathered together a pattern of clothing, feast programs, musical instruments, scores ... of the nine feast groups, furthermore a journey by the history of one of the oldest Moor and Christian feasts, with graphic illustrations and didactic material.

Fiestas

The patron saint feasts of Moors and Christians in honour of Sant Blai are celebrated in February from 2nd to 5th. Street feast groups, reveilles, procession, gunpowder and music are the essence of the feasts. They are declared ofTourist National Interest. In August, from 22nd to 28th we celebrate the feasts in honour of Sant Agustf where there are five nights of Danses, a folkloric ball which takes place in the Town Council Square, accompanied by the shawm and small drum.
Furthermore, Bocairent celebrates during the year many less well-known feasts, dedicated to every hermitage and streets of the town.

Natural Park of the Mariola Mountain

It is known by its richness and variety of its aromatic and medicinal plants. The Mariola Mountain has been recently declared natural park. More than a half of the protected territory it is situated in the township of Bocairent so this town is the ideal point to start a visit by the park. The Mariola Mountain spreads out by La

Vall d' Albaida, I' Aicoia and el Comtat region, and this way cross the GR-7 long-distance track. In the Mariola Mountain you can walk, ride or cycle. There are enlightened paths so the transient will be able to gaze at some interesting buildings such as hermitages, farmhouses, snow stores ... Also, you will discover natural places of peculiar beauty, such as the source of the Vinalopo river, the Montcabrer peak with 1390m, the Mariola fountain or the Sarsa Cave.

Gastronomy

The gastronomy of the area is highly influenced by the Mariola Mountain and gathers together a part of the Valencian food and another one of La Mancha one. There exist some traditional courses such as Mariola Gazpacho, meat with a special paste, peppers stuffed with rice, "alia de pencas", rice with vegetables, "pericana", a mix of stew green pepper, dried salted cod, spring onion, lemons a olive oil, and rice in general. Also, the sausages are very well-known. With regard to sweets, there is a strong influence of the Arabian people. In Bocairent every moment of the year has got its appropriate cakes and sweets. We can not forget our most renowned typical liquor, Herbero, which consists of a mix of anise softened with sweetscented herbs of the Mariola Mountain. Bocairent has got a wide offers of bars and restaurants where you can taste its rich culture and gastronomy. 

Toursit Information
Pl. Ajuntament, 2
46880
Bocairent
Tel: 96 290 50 62
bocairent@touristinfo.net
wwww.bocairent.org