Benagéber: Hiking Trails, Landscapes and Local History

Benagéber combines hiking trails and views with a landscape of mountains, gorges and pine forest. The town’s history is also part of a visit: today’s Benagéber was built beside the former hamlet of Nieva, and the museum’s objects recall the old village that was left beneath the reservoir. You can plan your stay around the things that interest you most—from trails and nature to local history and culture.

Hiking routes and trails by the water

The GR 7 E38 runs 26.60 kilometres from Benagéber to Chera. The Generalitat Valenciana is listed as its managing body. Another type of route is the PR-CV 114 Los Miradores de la Serranía–La Atalaya: this 12.60-kilometre circular route starts at the Ermita de San Isidro. You can choose between a route connecting two places and a loop with a fixed starting point—two different options to consider when planning your hike.

The PR-CV 114 passes through dense pine forest to the Fuente de la Sabina and continues to the Collado de la Atalaya. The route runs through both the Alto Turia Biosphere Reserve and the Alto Turia and Sierra del Negrete Special Protection Area for Birds. No quality inspections are recorded for this trail; shortcomings in signposting and maintenance may have arisen since its approval. Responsibility for this lies with the managing body. Check the condition of the route before setting out.

The Camino del Silencio project comprises two routes that you can travel on foot and/or by bicycle. The 16-kilometre memorial route passes through the main hamlets in the municipality. It starts in the hamlet of Nieva and leads to the Mirador de Nieva, a washhouse and the Fuente de San Isidro. The route also includes La Muela and the hamlet of Villanueva, where you can visit the Ermita and the Fuente de Santa Ana.

Another option is the Regajo route from Charco Negro to La Pardala. As a riverside trail, it includes sections travelled on foot and on the water. Aleppo pines grow mainly in the gorge, along with abundant mastic shrubs and kermes oaks. Check the water conditions and access to the route locally.

Landscape, reservoir and views

The municipality stretches along both sides of the Turia through mountains and gorges; pine forest covers most of the area. There are picnic tables at the Mirador del Pico Franco. From there, you can see the Benagéber Reservoir, Javalambre and parts of the Serranía de Cuenca. If you are interested in the night sky, Alto Turia offers another attraction: low light pollution makes this viewpoint suitable for observing the Milky Way, shooting stars and the moon.

The Fuente Muñoz recreational and camping area has been set up by the reservoir. If you plan to camp there, check the current permit requirements in advance; these may change. The viewpoint and the area by the reservoir offer two different ways to enjoy your stay: wide views across the surrounding landscape and time by the water. Which suits your plans better depends on whether you mainly want to take in the scenery or make a route the focus of your visit.

Townscape, museum and history

Today’s Benagéber was built around 1950 beside the former hamlet of Nieva. Straight streets and white houses around a square define the townscape. The Benagéber Museum focuses on the old village that was left beneath the reservoir: its historical exhibition displays objects from the village. There is also an art exhibition, with works mostly originating from competitions at the Feria de los Pueblos Amigos, and a more recent palaeontological exhibition.

Churches are also part of the townscape and surrounding area: the Ermita de San Isidro Labrador is a church set amid nature, while the Iglesia de la Purísima Concepción is in the town centre. At Regajo, a remnant of industrial history adds to the trails and landscape. The Molino Harinero de La Pardala flour mill was built beside the Regajo in the 19th century. Together, the museum, churches and mill offer different ways to connect the nature trails with the town’s history.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Llosa De Ranes, El Palomar, Chella, Benetússer, Alfafar, Vilamarxant, Manises, Yátova.

Go to the main travel overview: Valencia.