Discover Masalavés: History, springs and local cuisine

Masalavés brings together local history, a landscape of springs and local traditions. If you are looking for a hotel in Masalavés, it can help to decide in advance what you want to focus on during your trip: Are you particularly interested in historic buildings, the Ullals springs, or local cuisine and festival traditions? The following highlights offer specific points to help you make that decision.

Local history and historic buildings

At the time of the Christian conquest, Masalavés was an alquería. King Jaime I gave it to Pedro del Milá in 1247. The Portal de Massalavés originated as the tower of an Arab alquería. After the Christian conquest, the tower was extended to create a fortress. During its restoration, the original building materials were revealed. The history of this building therefore centres on its origins as a tower and its later extension.

Next to the restored portal, the parish church of San Miguel Arcángel y Santa María Magdalena stands in a pleasant square. The fully restored public washhouse adds a connection to everyday life to this glimpse into the past: it is considered a symbol of what life in Massalavés was like a few decades ago. The portal and church thus offer architectural points of interest, while the washhouse represents another side of local history.

Ullals springs and flat countryside

The Ullals springs are in Benimodo, near the centre of Masalavés. The Verde River, a tributary of the Júcar, rises from them. This makes the springs a specific natural attraction and a way to explore the course of the water. If you would like to take springs and river landscapes into account when choosing a destination, the Ullals are a clearly identified point of interest.

The countryside around Masalavés is flat, with a mix of cultivated fields. This landscape offers a different focus from the town’s historic buildings: here, the emphasis is on open spaces and an agricultural setting. The surrounding area can be explored on foot or by bicycle; the Ullals springs can also be visited this way. You can either head for a specific destination, such as the springs, or make the surrounding area your focus more generally.

Local cuisine and patron saint festivals

L’arròs amb fesols i naps is one of the standout dishes of Massalavés’s local cuisine. If regional food is one of your travel interests, this dish offers a specific local connection alongside the town’s history and landscape.

The patron saint festivals honour Santísimo Cristo de Masalavés, the municipality’s patron saint. As part of the 2025 patron saint festivals, the Romería del Crist de Massalavés route ran from Parc José María Ordeig in Masalavés to Alberic. If you would like to plan your trip around the celebrations, check the dates and programme for the year you have in mind.

Connection to València

A metro line connects Masalavés with València. If you plan to use this connection to travel to or from the town, check the timetable for your travel date. Together with the town’s other features, this information can help you tailor your travel plans to your interests and the period you have chosen.

Discover more destinations: Albuixech, Castelló De Rugat, Vallés, Palma de Gandía, Almussafes, La Torre D'en Besora, Albalat Dels Taronchers, Picanya.

For the wider travel guide: Valencia.