Cabanes between the Coast, Mountains and History

Cabanes combines coastal wetlands, mountain scenery and historic buildings with a network of hiking and cycling trails. To decide whether Cabanes is right for your stay, you can weigh up its coastal, natural and historical attractions. The routes differ in length, difficulty and scenery, among other things: from a short circuit near a hermitage to a route to the highest point of the nature park.

Coastal Wetlands and Mountain Scenery

The Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca Nature Park is a coastal wetland recognized as a wetland of international importance. El Cudolà Beach lies within this nature park; its coastline is about 2,000 meters long. At the other end of the landscape is the Desert de les Palmes Nature Park: a mountain landscape close to the coast, whose highest point, Bartolo, reaches 729 meters. The coastal wetlands and mountain ridges give excursions in Cabanes different scenic highlights.

Torre la Sal also brings together coastal and cultural history. The beach preserves traces of its past as a fishing settlement, including traditional fishermen’s houses. There are four defensive towers in the surrounding area, including Torre la Sal. Quartell Vell Beach is also located in the wider area around Cabanes. The ruins of an old Carabineros barracks stand there; its coastline is 3,300 meters long. Check the access conditions there before you go.

Hiking Trails by Length and Destination

Two trails, each four kilometers long, start at the Ermita de les Santes but offer different excursions. The very easy Ruta de les Santes begins and ends at the hermitage. The route to Miravet Castle is also four kilometers long, is described as easy, and follows a marked forest track from there to the fortress ruins. Miravet Castle is a fortress of Muslim origin, of which architectural remains have been preserved. Despite being the same length, the two routes therefore differ in difficulty and destination.

For a longer outing, El Bartolo i les Santes covers 9.9 kilometers and leads to Bartolo, the 729-meter-high summit of the nature park. The easy hiking route offers panoramic views of the Castelló coastline and wide stretches of the inland landscape. Torre la Sal 2 runs along the coast: this very easy, marked trail is 6.5 kilometers long and passes through fossil dunes and wetlands to the vicinity of the ruins of an old Carabineros barracks. From the coastal town of Torre la Sal in Cabanes, another route leads on foot or by bike to the beaches of the neighboring municipality of Torreblanca.

The Senda Local de Cabanes SLC1 is a very easy 5.74-kilometer circular route that you can complete on foot or by bike. Cabanes also has a BTT/MTB trail network of more than 100 kilometers, spread across five routes. Different considerations apply to these trails: a shorter distance, a particular destination or a circular route. Trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out; you should also check the availability of the BTT/MTB network again before your trip.

Historical Traces in Cabanes

Notable buildings include the Arco Romano de Cabanes, a surviving structure dating from the 2nd century. The medieval men’s prison dates from the 15th century. The medieval settlement was protected by walls with four gates, which were closed at nightfall. An archaeological settlement in Cabanes was inhabited between 4,000 and 2,500 years ago, during the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. The historical sites therefore span an early settlement, the medieval townscape and surviving buildings from Roman times.

The guided Paseo cultural por Cabanes offers insights into the layout of the former Muslim settlement, medieval manor houses, a medieval oven and one of the former town gates. Check in advance whether the walk is offered on your travel dates. If it is available, you can combine an interest in historical sites with a guided cultural experience.

Fira de Sant Andreu

The Fira de Sant Andreu in Cabanes has been recognized as a festival of provincial tourist interest. Its recurring features include a traditional livestock exhibition and a bonsai exhibition. The fair also offers gastronomic products from Castelló, including turrón, sweets, wine, cheese, cured meats and salted products. If you would like to include the fair in your travel plans, check the current program before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Figueroles, Argelita, Arañuel, Cinctorres, Olocau Del Rey, Benasal, Benicarló, Tírig.

For the overview of the wider region: Castellon.