Castell de Guadalest
Twenty-five kilometres inland from Benidorm in the foothills of the Sierra de Aitana mountain range you will find the picturesque village and ‘Castell de Guadalest’. This famous fortress was built by the Moors nearly 1,300 years ago and it was then only accessible through a 15 meter long tunnel through solid rock. The tunnel called the ‘Portal de San José’ is to this day still the only point of access. The fortress was a look out point for the ‘Moros’ who occupied Spain in the twelfth century. In later times it was conquered in turn by the Kings of Spain and the Moors until eventually in 1609, Felipe the third, ordered all the Moors to be expelled, which led to yet another uprising in Guadalest. After this uprising the Moors were defeated and fled from Spain.
After an explosion in 1848, when the powder reserves blew up, the fortress was abandoned. To this day the history books tell us that it is not known if the explosion was an accident or planned. Guadalest, which is set on a pinnacle, is unlike any other village in Spain and because of this it has a most unique appeal. The houses creep up towards the top in a most fascinating way. The little array of caves winding up to the top of Guadalest are now museums and quaint little shops selling fine leather handbags, gifts, crafts, wines of the area, honey, lace table covers, porcelain to name but a few.
Once you have wound your way through the lower part of Guadalest you enter through the ‘Portal de San José’ into a small stoned paving area and here, if you wish, you can visit the restored house where the Orduña family once lived. The only tourist route nowadays to the very top, where the old and the current cemeteries are located, is through the house. After Orduña house, wander up past more small shops, to the cobbled square where you will find some friendly little restaurants, as well as a busy school and a very tiny jail, which is now unused. On one side of the square you can sit on the stone seats and if you look over the wall you will see a stunning view. It is the ‘Embalse de Guadalest, a dam, in which the water is a beautiful turquoise colour, which was built between 1953 and 1964. This reservoir measures 26 meters high and 270 meters long and supplies water to a number of towns and villages in the area, including Benidorm.
Although it may seem that Guadalest is only a tourist place, it is actually a busy little village with a population of two hundred inhabitants, houses and schools, who devote their lives now to tourism and agriculture. Guadalest is well worth a visit and once you have been there you may wish for another trip, it never seems to loose it’s charm and even after many visits it always seems to have something else to offer. Several coach companies offer trips there or you can make your own way there. There is ample parking available and a picnic site.
Article provided by kind permission of The Leader Newspaper
Related Links: Guadalest Map - Guadalest Weather - Guadalest Photos - Pictures of Guadalest - Castle Picture
Places to visit nearby:- Altea - Moraira - Javea - Gandia - Fuentes de Algar - Calpe - Albir - Callosa D'En Sarria
More Places: Santa Barbara Castle Alicante - Cuevas del Canelobre - Finestrat - Denia - Villajoyosa
Guadalest property to sell or rent? Advertise with us today for better results - Sell My Guadalest Property
Twenty-five kilometres inland from Benidorm in the foothills of the Sierra de Aitana mountain range you will find the picturesque village and ‘Castell de Guadalest’. This famous fortress was built by the Moors nearly 1,300 years ago and it was then only accessible through a 15 meter long tunnel through solid rock. The tunnel called the ‘Portal de San José’ is to this day still the only point of access. The fortress was a look out point for the ‘Moros’ who occupied Spain in the twelfth century. In later times it was conquered in turn by the Kings of Spain and the Moors until eventually in 1609, Felipe the third, ordered all the Moors to be expelled, which led to yet another uprising in Guadalest. After this uprising the Moors were defeated and fled from Spain.
After an explosion in 1848, when the powder reserves blew up, the fortress was abandoned. To this day the history books tell us that it is not known if the explosion was an accident or planned. Guadalest, which is set on a pinnacle, is unlike any other village in Spain and because of this it has a most unique appeal. The houses creep up towards the top in a most fascinating way. The little array of caves winding up to the top of Guadalest are now museums and quaint little shops selling fine leather handbags, gifts, crafts, wines of the area, honey, lace table covers, porcelain to name but a few.
Once you have wound your way through the lower part of Guadalest you enter through the ‘Portal de San José’ into a small stoned paving area and here, if you wish, you can visit the restored house where the Orduña family once lived. The only tourist route nowadays to the very top, where the old and the current cemeteries are located, is through the house. After Orduña house, wander up past more small shops, to the cobbled square where you will find some friendly little restaurants, as well as a busy school and a very tiny jail, which is now unused. On one side of the square you can sit on the stone seats and if you look over the wall you will see a stunning view. It is the ‘Embalse de Guadalest, a dam, in which the water is a beautiful turquoise colour, which was built between 1953 and 1964. This reservoir measures 26 meters high and 270 meters long and supplies water to a number of towns and villages in the area, including Benidorm.
Although it may seem that Guadalest is only a tourist place, it is actually a busy little village with a population of two hundred inhabitants, houses and schools, who devote their lives now to tourism and agriculture. Guadalest is well worth a visit and once you have been there you may wish for another trip, it never seems to loose it’s charm and even after many visits it always seems to have something else to offer. Several coach companies offer trips there or you can make your own way there. There is ample parking available and a picnic site.
Article provided by kind permission of The Leader Newspaper
Related Links: Guadalest Map - Guadalest Weather - Guadalest Photos - Pictures of Guadalest - Castle Picture
Places to visit nearby:- Altea - Moraira - Javea - Gandia - Fuentes de Algar - Calpe - Albir - Callosa D'En Sarria
More Places: Santa Barbara Castle Alicante - Cuevas del Canelobre - Finestrat - Denia - Villajoyosa
Guadalest property to sell or rent? Advertise with us today for better results - Sell My Guadalest Property
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