Alpuente: Medieval Heritage, Dinosaurs and Hiking Landscapes

Alpuente combines medieval heritage, palaeontological evidence and scenic routes. If you are looking for a hotel, it helps to decide in advance whether your main focus is the historic centre, the dinosaur sites or hiking. Options range from visiting individual buildings to hikes lasting several hours and multi-stage routes.

Historic centre and buildings

Alpuente’s medieval street plan and oldest architectural monuments are designated as a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico. Castillo y Murallas de Alpuente form a historic defensive complex and are classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). Castillo de Alpuente has an illustrated walking tour and offers views of Hoz del Reguero; it can be visited freely at any time.

The Acueducto de los Arcos is a 14th-century Gothic aqueduct with 13 arches and can also be visited freely at any time. Check local visitor arrangements before your trip to Castillo and the aqueduct. Torre Alhama preserves traces of its original function as a gate tower in the Andalusian wall that enclosed Alpuente’s former medina. You can currently visit the Salones de Cortes, the council chamber, the plenary hall, prison rooms and the dungeon, as well as ceilings with 14th-century stucco work.

The Museo Etnológico de Alpuente is housed in a former public oven dating from the 14th century, which remained in use until the first third of the 20th century. Its permanent exhibition explores the communal management of the territory and the grain cycle. The Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Piedad contains religious artworks such as sculptures, paintings and altars.

Dinosaur finds and palaeontological attractions

The Museo Paleontológico de Alpuente displays dinosaur bones recovered during palaeontological excavations. These include fossils of sauropods, theropods, stegosaurs and ornithopods. The Corcolilla site is designated as a Bien de Interés Cultural and is equipped for visitors with walkways, a large car park and explanatory panels.

The Cañada París dinosaur site has sauropod tracks, is easy to reach by car and has explanatory information. Another way to explore Alpuente’s palaeontology is the “Dinosaurios en el reino del silencio” experience, which includes a guided tour of the Museo Paleontológico, a visit to the Aula de Recuperación Paleontológica and an educational workshop. Advance booking is required for this experience.

Hiking trails and landscapes

A certified hiking route is more than 11 kilometres long and passes through juniper groves, grain-growing landscapes and the area’s traditional architecture. This route usually takes 3 to 4.5 hours. Another hike starts in Alpuente and offers views of the Reguero Valley, as well as seasonal waterfalls and pools. Eagles and vultures are often seen there.

The Ruta de las Aldeas is 45 kilometres long and can be completed in several stages by mountain bike or on foot. It passes through inhabited and abandoned settlements in Alpuente. Another route passes through several villages and landscapes in the area, by the medieval Acueducto de los Arcos and through the Reguero gorge at La Bomba, as well as through the Sabinar, with its centuries-old junipers.

You can also make the views a focus of your visit: a viewpoint offers a panorama of Alpuente, the rear of the castle, the La Hoz gorge and the striking cliff that stretches from the mountain down to the Reguero near the La Bomba waterfall.

Planning guided visits

The Ruta de la Taifa de Alpuente is a guided tour of the historic centre. It includes visits to Torre Alhama, the former council chambers, the Salón de Cortes, the Museo Etnológico and the Museo Paleontológico. Ask the Tourist Info about current visitor arrangements. This will help you distinguish this experience from visits to individual buildings and sites, as well as hiking routes, and plan your stay around the themes that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Jaraguas, Castielfabib, Catarroja, Quatretonda, Navalón, Macastre, Jalance, Albalat Dels Taronchers

For the main travel overview: Valencia.