Chulilla Valencia Spain - Medieval Tourist Town with walks

Description:

Chulilla is a municipality inland to the Region of Valencia belonging to the Region of La Serranía.

This municipality is located in the middle basin of the Turia River, at 322 meters above sea level.

From the town one can stroll through its narrow and steep mediaeval streets which have been preserved throughout time in perfect condition.

Its beautiful landscapes and its thermal waters will continue to make Chulilla one of the more attractive tourism places, as the days pass by.

The main economic activity, however, still comes from agriculture.

Chulilla’s Carnivals

These have been reintroduced after a long suspension. In Chulilla, the celebration of these festivities gathers enthusiasm each year. They are usually held the second weekend in February, from Friday to Sunday.

The carnivals start with a children’s parade in the afternoon; this parades moves throughout the old streets of the town. Afterwards, every person willing to don elaborate costumes which will mask their identity, or to enjoy of this festival will have the opportunity of taking pleasure in a passacaglia which sets out from the castle and finishes in the main square of the town where the “Dotora” is burned.

A characteristic note is that instead of celebrating the sardine’s burial (which is a very typical event celebrated during carnivals), the “Dotora”is burned in Chulilla. A festival is carried out for the enjoyment of all visitors after burning the dotora in the square.

The Enramá Festival

The Enramá celebrates the arrival of spring. This is most likely the most traditional and supported festivity of Chulilla, and also one of the most important festivities of Los Serranos Region. The Enramá is celebrated in May and during Easter.

 

Although the entire town participates in this event, the real main characters are the mayorales and obreras, boys and girls from 17 to 22 years old, accompanied by the floreras, girls from 4 to 8 years old. All of them are in charge of organizing this festivity.

This festivity starts on the day of St Vicente Ferrer and continues until the first weekend of May, when the Enramá is celebrated. During this time period, every Friday and Saturday night a caracole shell is played throughout the many different streets of the town to announce that the festivities are near.

 

The following events are carried out:

 

1. First weekend of May.

 

Saturday 

- Enramá (Saturday morning). The mayorales, accompanied by their respective groups, cut black poplar's branches from the riverside. These branches are loaded into horse drawn carts and transported in to the town. Thanks to the size of the branches and therefore the size of the carts, the distance traveled and the subsequent entry into the town, this is a impressive event not to be missed. 

- Las grupas (Saturday afternoon). This is a pilgrimage on horseback, to the Virgin, which goes throughout Chulilla's old quarter. All participants wear the typical local attire. 

- Jotas (Aragonese Folk song and dances). The jotas dances are performed when las grupas finish. 

- Los Mayos are prose chants, which satirically portray events which have taken place throughout the entire year. This event is held at 12:00 midnight at the doors to the Church.

 

Sunday mayorales. The mayorales and obreras offer, in various events, a wide array of the most typical pastries and wines from Chulilla to all, visitors and citizens alike.

 

MORE INFO:

 

The Enramá is the oldest of Chulilla's festivities and has been celebrated for generations; this festivity is primarily for Chulilla's younger citizens, but the entire town joins in the fun. The festivities are organized by the Mayorales and the Obreras.

The Mayorales are four boys 17 to 22 years old, and the Obreras are two ladies of the same ages than the mayorales. The Florericas also participate in this event; they are two girls 4 to 7 years old.

 

This festivity starts on the Monday of St Vicente Ferrer and finishes during the first weekend of May. On St Vicente Ferrer's Day, the mayorales and obreras are substituted by the new mayorales and obreras. In the afternoon, the new mayorales, together with the old mayorales dance la jota in the Square of the Church.

 

From this moment to the first weekend of May, the mayorales and their friends run throughout the town every Friday and Saturday night, sounding their shells in strategically places (La Peñeta and the Viewpoint), which causes the sound to be heard in the entire town.

 

The entry of the enramá is held on the morning of the first Saturday of the month. This is the entry of a cart loaded with black poplar's branches, which have been cut by the mayorales and their friends. The entry into the town is very spectacular, because the carts are guided by horses, which are quintessential animals of these festivities.

 

Las grupas are celebrated on Saturday afternoon; this is a pilgrimage, which is carried out on horseback in honor of the virgin, and which wind throughout the streets of the town.

Walks Recommended By The Tourist Office

PATHS WITH SHORT ROUTES PR.V. 76. CHULILLA - GESTALGAR. 

 

PR.V 76 PATH DESCRIPTION Our route begins in the Baronía de Chulilla Square. After passing through town, winding along its steep streets, we descend to the river, following an asphalted pathway. Upon traversing the river for the first time, on the left hand side, we leave behind the remains from an ancient washing place. Once we have crossed the bridge, we go on, following our route along a rural path which gradually becomes steep; from here one has a wonderful view of the orchards located in Turia's meadow. We continue for some 600 m. until reaching a bend in the path from which we cross the Fallfiguera gully: at this point we will enjoy seeing the interesting lines in the rocks created by the water course. Next, we will arrive at the La Rinconà fountain, where we can satisfy our thirst in preparation for this long trajectory. Continue on our way, we can now enjoy the river landscape, which is broader in this area, offering us a great meander. The Fuencaliente Spa is located on the opposite side of the river. This spa is well known for its thermal waters and has properties of mineral and medical interest. We continue along our route once again, going around the Turia River and leaving on the left side an ancient channel from where some other parts of the path keep on going. A little after this, we arrive to the Sot River's mouth in the right bank. At some 200 m. we find El Corindón, an old emery stone factory, which was destroyed by a large flood in 1957. The channel used to meet with the old factory. A number of specimens of dwarf pines, which are unusual in this area, grow here. From this point, we can admire, on our right hand side over the river, the remains of a Roman aqueduct. In our left, we can also observe some curiously shaped rocks well known in the area as Picarchos. In addition, we can enjoy the wonderful view of the river, which is very bendy in this part. Continuing on our way, crossing the Mediterranean small bushes until reaching the Deep Gully, where there is a change in flora, thanks to the natural shade of the area. Passing the gully, we can observe how the path becomes narrower to fit and run alongside an impressive gorge carved out of the rock by the Turia River. We continue along another path for some minutes until reaching La Peña María big stone, which belongs to Gestalgar, passing along an old dam, which was destroyed by the above mentioned flood. Our route continues rounding the river and some orchards until we arrive at the municipality of Gestalgar, where we will visit its old quarter, and its castle as well.

PR.V. 77. CHULILLA - LORIGUILLA DAM - SOT DE CHERA 

PR. V 77 ITINERARY DESCRIPTION We leave Chulilla from La Baronía Square toward Los Huertos (the orchards). Then cross Los Huertos Bridge. At 100 m, following an ascending path, we will soon come across a fork in the path under an old carob tree, which leads us toward the Falfiguera gully through the Vereda de Castilla. We follow this path, which ascends in a zigzag formation until reaching a soft saddle point.

 

Then, we descend into the gully. It is worth pausing for some minutes at this point in order to fully appreciate the gully's structure and formations. After this, we continue along the path which follows the river basin, which can be reached by descending the Falfiguera gully. This path continues its ascent down the left bank of the gully, each time a little higher along the gully, until reaching, 600 m. from the saddle point, another path descends to the left side; here, we have two options: a) to continue toward Sot de Chera, or b) go toward Loriguilla Dam.

1. To go toward Sot de Chera, we will follow this descending left path; crossing the gully and ascending again, by a sort of rock tower, until leaving the gully by its left side; at the base of this rock we will find the remains of an old limestone quarry. This path continues, more or less, horizontally until reaching the Black Hill fountain; this fountain emerges from the ground, inside a small vault constructed to protect the fountain. We continue upwards until reaching an overhanging rock ahead of us. Then, we abruptly descend to the other side of the mountain toward Sot de Chera. From here we will observe a wonderful landscape of the Sot de Chera River valley. We descend along the zigzagging path until reaching the road shore. We continue following the road until we arrive at the main entrance to Sot de Chera, where our route finishes.
2. When we have passed the fork which leads to Sot de Chera. We continue are ascent toward Loriguilla Dam. Our path turns right, always running parallel to the gully; we will follow this path for 400 m. until it is intersected by another path; the gully continues toward the SW, but now has acquired the name of watercourse of Cubillas. We then take the right hand path which ascends some 1000 m above us until it is crossed again by a wider path. This wider path was once the old pathway which connected Loriguilla and Sot de Chera. We follow this wider path along its right side, until we reach yet another crossroad, where we turn right again; this is a descending path by which we will reach Loriguilla Dam, at 2000 m from the end of the path. The view from the Turia Canyon from the dam is spectacular.

TREKKING. 1.LOCAL PATH "THE COVES - PEÑETA" Distance: 1 km.

Difficulty: Medium
Recommendations: wear hiking boots and comfortable clothing Description of the route We leave La Baronía Square through the Maestro Amblar Street. At the beginning of San Juan Street we will observe some signs indicating our route. We will then take this street and turn left in 50 m. to enter Las Cuevas Street. At the end of this street, we will find a viewpoint from which we will observe the Turia Canyon direction El Charco Azul (the Blue Puddle). A new path which will take us to La Peñeta Viewpoint begins here. We will pass over The Coves and the Gollisno Cove. Over this latter cove, we will observe the gorge of the Treasure Cove. Little by little we circumnavigate the town until we reach La Peñeta Viewpoint. The Turia Canyon ends here at this point from its original starting point at the dam. From this viewpoint we will go to Mayor Street until we finish our route in La Baronía Square. A new path which will take us to La Peñeta Viewpoint begins here. We will pass over The Coves and the Gollisno Cove. Over this latter cove, we will observe the gorge of the Treasure Cove. Little by little we circumnavigate the town until we reach La Peñeta Viewpoint. The Turia Canyon ends here at this point from its original starting point at the dam. From this viewpoint we will go to Mayor Street until we finish our route in La Baronía Square. 2. LOCAL PATH "LEBRILLICO- LA MUELA FOUNTAIN" Distance: 4 Km.
Dificulty: Medium

Recommendations: take some water with you, and wear the appropriate light mountaineering boots and comfortable clothing or warm clothing depending on the season. Description of the route We leave La Baronía Square taking El Salto Street in the direction of Las Eras (parking area). When we reach this point, which is near a farmyard, we will begin ascending La Muela's mountainside. As we walk, we will often see the remains of a water channel whose original source is in El Lebrillico Fountain, and which terminates in the current La Baronía Square, where it was once used as a pond for cattle. Once we have arrived at El Lebrillico Fountain, which is currently dry, we will continue our ascension to the highest part of La Muela Mountain. When we have reached this point, we will find a number of viewpoints to enjoy; one of them is The Cross Viewpoint, which is spectacular thanks to an impressive overhang, as well as a wonderful view. The way back begins at the small pond located close to some picnic tables and benches. We will launch our descendant path at 500 m but will soon leave this path to join ourselves once again to a narrower path; this is the path we will follow until we again reach the town. At this point, we will cross La Cruz Street and Valencia Street, finishing our journey in La Baronía Square. 3. LOCAL PATH "PELMA - BANDERA - PELMA". Distance: 12 Km.
Difficulty: Medium

Recommendations: take some water with you; wear the appropriate light mountaineering boots and comfortable or warm clothing for the season.

Description of the route Our route begins from the leisure area of Pelma, located 3 km. outside of Chulilla. We then pass along sites especially used for cooking paellas and groves of olive trees. Little by little, we leave Pelma behind, walking parallel to its traffic road. We continue on our way, well known as Las Clochas de Targa or as La Cañá Jorge, La Hoya Gully, until we encounter the path leading to the spa. Following this road until we will reach La Rinconá Fountain; during this part of the route we will walk along the Pr-76 Chulilla-Gestalgar Road. Here, we will be able to refresh ourselves and our water bottles in La Rinconá Fountain before continuing on our way via the PR 76 Road, until we reach a fork which will lead us to the PR 250 Road. We start our ascent on the left side, in the direction of the highest point of Bandera Mountain, passing through a place well known as Los Picarchos, leaving behind us the Chulilla's Spa. On our way up to the summit, we will pass along "Javier's farmyard". When we reach the La Bandera summit, we turn left until reaching La Bandera Viewpoint. By retracing our footsteps we can reunite with the path; we will keep on descending toward Pelma through an area well known as El Losar.

Access

This municipality is 59 km away from Valencia. Take the CV-35 (Valencia-Ademuz) Road and the CV-395 (Requena-Segorbe).

Meander up though the valley of the river Turia which flows to valencia. From Lliria, head for Pedralba, Bugarra, Gestalgar and up to Chulilla.  It will take longer, but is very pretty.

One can gain access to the municipality by bus with the HISPANO CHELVANA S.A Company. Telephone numbers: 96.198 50 09 / 96.198 83 58.