La Vall d'Ebo: Rock Art, Karst and Walking Routes

La Vall d'Ebo brings together archaeological sites, karst landscapes and marked hiking trails, as well as local festivals and traditional cuisine.

Rock Art and Archaeological Sites

Cova Fosca is considered a sanctuary of Upper Palaeolithic rock art in the province of Alicante. Its collection includes 31 panels with engravings; the cave also contains a multiple burial with Bell Beaker pottery dating to around 2,000 BC. In 1998, the Vall d'Ebo rock art ensemble was included on the World Heritage List as part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula.

Examples of Levantine rock art dating to around 1,800 BC can also be found in Cueva de las Torrudanes. Cueva del Reinós is associated with the first settlements in the Upper Palaeolithic, around 15,000 BC; the rock paintings there are cited as evidence of this. The Centre d’Interpretació de l’Art Rupestre de la Vall d’Ebo is on the third floor of the Casa Museu. It displays reproductions and facsimiles of all the engravings and rock paintings in the municipality, in display cases and on panels featuring 3D photographs. The old house of the Casa Museu Museu Etnològic displays a collection of tools and curiosities assembled by local residents. Check the opening arrangements for the interpretation centre and museum before visiting.

Karst, Caves and Hiking Trails

The Vall d'Ebo lapiaz has developed in Cretaceous limestone. Rainwater seeped into cracks in the rock, forming a varied underground karst landscape. There are seven marked hiking trails in the municipality, with a combined length of 48 kilometres. The Travessa del Maset al Tossal Gran is a seven-kilometre circular route; the 140-metre-deep Avenc Estret lies along the way. The Avencs - Refugi de la Figuereta route leads to Tossal Gran, which offers panoramic views of Vall d'Ebo. The PR-CV 43 Les Valls route links La Vall d’Alcalà, La Vall d’Ebo, La Vall de Gallinera and La Vall de Laguar as named valley sections.

For a specific time estimate, the walk along a more accessible section of the Barranc de l’Infern takes about two hours. It starts at Font d’en Gili and passes through an area of sheer rock faces and shady nooks. Appropriate technical ability is recommended for the full traverse. Check the route's access and terrain conditions before setting out.

Cova del Rull is a developed cave with multicoloured stalactites and stalagmites. Its guided tour covers more than 200 metres via stairways and passageways and is suitable for all visitor groups; confirm current access and suitability conditions in advance. Els Tolls are natural pools reached via a marked path about 100 metres before Cova del Rull. Els Avencs are natural sinkholes beside the road from Ebo to Pego, on the way to Refugi de la Figuereta. Park vehicles beside the road there.

Passejada etnobotànica La Vall d'Ebo takes visitors around the surrounding area and introduces them to various plants and the species planted in the Jardí rebrotador El Condoig garden. At the edge of the village, a dirt track leads to Font d’en Gili. There is a freshwater spring developed by the municipality and a picnic area; check the condition of the facilities before your visit.

Local History and Buildings

Església de Sant Miquel de la Vall d’Ebo is a Baroque church dating from 1623. It houses a sculpture of the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats from the Vergara school. Near La Font de la Serra are a typical 18th-century washhouse and the ruins of the former watermill, El Remolí. Close to Font de la Serra, Despoblat de Serra preserves the remains of a former Moorish alqueria, finally abandoned in the 18th century.

Festivals and Traditional Cuisine

Festivities in honour of San Miguel Arcángel, patron saint of the municipality of Vall de Ebo, take place every year on the last weekend of September. The programme includes a concert at Cova del Rull, a shared dinner and a large paella. Check the exact dates and programme for the relevant year's event before travelling.

Festa Fira del Perelló is dedicated to the local Perelló pear variety and takes place on the third weekend of November. The programme includes a craft market, Perelló tastings, traditional craft demonstrations, workshops, music events, routes and exhibitions. Here too, the programme and exact dates may vary from year to year. Festes d’Agost is dedicated to the Virgen de los Desamparados and the Cristo del Amparo; it includes cultural activities, exhibitions, processions, religious celebrations, theatre performances, pelota games, children's games and parades. Confirm the dates and programme before planning your trip around them.

Traditional dishes in Vall d’Ebo include wheat olleta, grilled meat, puchero, rice with beans and chard, and rice with lentils. If you would like to try any of them, ask the restaurant about its current menu.

Discover more destinations: Petrer, Gaianes, San Bartolomé, San Fulgencio, Els Poblets, Senija, Tabarca, Salinas

For the broader travel overview: Alicante.