Otos: Sundials, Hiking Trails and Heritage

Otos has several distinctive features, including sundials scattered throughout the town, hiking trails towards Benicadell and buildings with a documented history. This makes it possible to plan a trip around art and architecture in the town, as well as hikes through the surrounding countryside. Festivals and local dishes also provide specific reasons to take the calendar into account.

Sundials and art in the town

The Route dels Rellotges de sol is an open-air museum: numerous sundials are scattered throughout the town. The project began in 2005 with the aim of creating eight sundials by Valencian artists; the collection now comprises more than thirty. The route thus links a historical starting point with a collection that has steadily grown, with its works spread across Otos.

Another art destination is the permanent Antoni Miró collection at the Palau d’Otos. It comprises more than 200 works and presents the artist in a monographic, chronologically arranged tour through various periods or series. The collection therefore focuses on the development of a single artist, while the sundials take art as their theme throughout the town. The collection can be visited on Sundays alongside the guided Route dels Rellotges de sol; check the visiting arrangements before your trip.

Hiking from Otos

The SL-CV 10 hiking trail, “Otos i el Paisatge Protegit de l’Ombria del Benicadell,” is a circular route, although the outward and return legs share some sections. It is 9.40 kilometres long, with 440 metres of ascent and 440 metres of descent. The starting point is C/ de Sant Roc in Otos. The route passes the Nevera de Tormo and goes near the Cueva Coleto. The trail is promoted by the Ayuntamiento de Otos; its status was positive at the last quality check in November 2024.

Otos is also the starting point for a hiking route to Benicadell; other trails lead to l’Ombria del Benicadell, where the ruins of Castell de Carbonera are located. When planning your hiking day, you can distinguish the numbered circular route from these trails associated with Benicadell and the ruins. This gives you a choice between a route with a specific profile and other hikes focused on destinations in the surrounding landscape.

Buildings and local history

The church “L’Església de la Immaculada Concepció” was built between 1721 and 1724 and blessed in 1742. It has three naves and a dome above the crossing. The crossing is where the nave and transept meet; the dome is thus situated over a specific part of the church’s architecture.

The Palau del marqués de Sant Josep was built by Joan Nunyes in 1725. The Baroque palace has a cube-shaped main building and a tower attached at the rear. The church and palace offer different architectural points of reference: one features naves and a dome, while the other has a cubic main building with a tower at the rear.

Festivals and culinary traditions

Otos’s patron saint festivals take place every year from 6 to 8 August in honour of Cristo de la Fe, Santos de la Piedra and Inmaculada Concepción. As programme details may change, check the specific dates and programme before your trip. Dia de les Cassoletes is celebrated on the Thursday before Carnival; the focus is on pig’s ear and snout. The patron saint festivals have fixed August dates, while Dia de les Cassoletes is linked to Carnival—two different points of reference for planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Ador, Sot De Chera, Bocairent, València, Real De Montroi, Chera, Alpuente, Alfafar

For the overview of the wider region: Valencia.