Cortes De Pallás: Hiking, Water and Castles

Cortes De Pallás lies along the Júcar River. When planning a stay, you can focus on different activities: hiking trails, places with water and cascades, exploring a cave, or visiting historic buildings. This lets you arrange your destinations according to your interests.

Hiking a Circular Trail and a Long-Distance Route

The SL-CV 13 circular hiking trail, the Senda de Cavanilles, starts and ends in Cortes De Pallás. It is 8.5 kilometres long and has a moderate difficulty level. The route passes through a Valencian game reserve and through LIC and ZEPA areas in the Natura 2000 network. Check the signage and trail conditions locally.

The GR 7 long-distance hiking trail crosses the municipality from north to south. It runs over the Sierra Martés-Albeitar and then follows the Júcar to the summit of Caroig. This gives you a choice between a circular trail that starts and ends in Cortes De Pallás and a long-distance route that crosses the municipality from north to south.

Reservoir, Waterfalls and Nature

A tourist river route on the Júcar runs between Cofrentes and Cortes De Pallás, covering 14 kilometres of the Cortes reservoir. Check booking and operating details before your trip. At the Embalse de Cortes de Pallás jetty, kayaks can be rented in spring and summer, and boat trips on the reservoir are available. Confirm current rental availability in advance.

The Barranco de la Barbulla, also known as Arroyo de Cortes, is a trail with cascades and small waterfalls. These include El Corbinet, the Tres Cascadas, the Cascada de la Cueva el Tejedor and the Cascadas del Manantial de San Vicente. Water flow varies by season. Los Chorradores de Otonel are a series of continuous waterfalls that flow into the Júcar; their flow varies with rainfall. Las Pozas del Ral are pools formed by river erosion. Swimming conditions there may vary.

The Muela de Cortes is home to a national big-game hunting reserve. Ibex and mouflon can be found on the steep cliffs along the reservoir’s right bank. Cueva Hermosa is a karst cave with stalactites and stalagmites. It has numerous chambers and an underground water source. Exploring it in its entirety requires caving experience and takes more than five hours.

Castles and Buildings

Castillo de la Pileta is a former Moorish fortress in the centre of Cortes De Pallás and is open to visitors. The remains of two square-plan towers are still standing. Castillo de Chirel rises above the Júcar Canyon. It was built in the Middle Ages to control traffic along the Júcar. Despite being in ruins, its double curtain wall, cistern and main tower are still recognisable. A hiking trail suitable for the whole family leads to the castle; check local trail conditions before your visit.

Castillo de Ruaya is a Muslim castle that once controlled the routes into the Ayora Valley. Its watchtower survives, although it has deteriorated over the years. The hamlet of Otonel contains the remains of a former Muslim castle, including a tower and traces of an earlier stretch of wall. The parish church of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in Cortes De Pallás was built in 1775. The Palace of the Baron of Cortes de Pallás is an 18th-century Baroque building.

In the hamlet of Venta Gaeta, you can sample locally made traditional sausages and meat. Confirm current availability locally.

Discover more destinations: Llosa De Ranes, Jaraguas, Jativa, Quart de Poblet, Aielo de Malferit, La Mata De Morella, Alcàntera De Xúquer, Catarroja

For the broader travel overview: Valencia.