Castillo de Bayren / Castell de Bairén

Castillo de Bayren / Castell de Bairén  Bayren Castle If you feel like having a nearby excursion that incorporates a gentle hike as well as a taste of local history, then maybe a visit to the ruined Bayren Castle on the northern outskirts of Gandia could be the answer. It was probably first built as a Roman fortification and look-out post rather than as protection for local towns, and dates back further than the founding of Gandia itself around 1240. First mentioned in reference to a battle in 1097, the castle itself is now in a ruined state but has recently been the subject of a restoration project. As a result, the whole area it occupies is now very much more visitor friendly, and has been designated an archaeological park. Parc Arqueològic del Castell de Bairén You can park your car at the base of the rock and make your way up the newly-constructed trail that leads to the summit and the castle itself, with plenty of resting and viewing points along the way. After an ascent of some 106m above sea-level you arrive at the summit and are rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding area in all directions,…

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Parpallo Cave – an excursion

Parpallo Cave  A mountain walk with a bit of pre-history! Coming from Gandia, just before the outskirts of La Drova, is the starting point for several beautiful and well-marked mountain walks in the Parpalló-Borrell conservation area. However, at the Parpallo Cave – Information Centre there, one can take the opportunity to discover more than just mountain walks because it is also the starting point for a guided tour to the famous “Cueva del Parpalló” – a cave of great archaeological significance. Inhabited by ancient man from about 29,000 until 10,000 years ago, this cave was believed to be a meeting point for the various clans that lived along the Mediterranean coast at the time, facilitating trade as well as increasing the gene pool amongst the different groups. Of great significance are the very many examples of cave art (mainly scratched-out pictures on the rock) that were discovered here, far more than at any other site in Europe. Many of these, as well as tools and weapons, are now on display in the Prehistoric Museum in Valencia and MUSEU ARQUEOLÒGIC Gandia. Guided visits to the cave can be arranged, and these start with a video in the Information Centre followed by…

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