アルメナーラ周辺のアトラクション＆必見スポット - トップ20

The El Socavón Mine is a former cinnabar (mercury sulfide) mine located in the municipality of Chóvar, within the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park. Cinnabar is the mineral from which mercury is extracted. These mines were once exploited for their industrial value, as mercury was used to amalgamate gold and silver.

The castle is incredibly large and expansive. It offers a magnificent view. Please note the opening hours!

It was a really beautiful but also strenuous hike. There are very rocky paths shortly after the start and also at the end. In the end we were still happy, the view is magnificent!

It was built in the 12th century by the Muslims who inhabited the region. Its original purpose was to retain the waters of the ravine of the same name and then use them to irrigate the fields downstream. This route is ideal for hiking lovers and offers a variety of landscapes and experiences. I hope you enjoy exploring the Ajuez Reservoir and its surroundings! 🌿🏞️

Castle complex with a long, varied history. Magnificent view over the area around Sagunto - including the new Volkswagen battery factory!

Ernbalse de Ajuez Unfortunately, the reservoir is almost dry and things are slowly getting tight for the fish and turtles. The Chóvar Reservoir, as it is also called, is part of an ancient local irrigation system built to retain the rushing water from the eponymous gorge. The place name is derived from Arabic, the meaning of which means “common pastureland” and indicates the importance of agriculture and livestock breeding in the region. Due to its capacity of 30,000 m³ and the lack of water sources in the nature park, it is of great value for the fauna. It is currently included in the catalog of wetlands of the Valencian Community

Cinnabar mines. An example of the importance of the metallurgical activity that took place in the Sierra Espadán are the remains of the currently abandoned Hembral mining complex, where, among other things, remains of the El Socavón mine can be seen, consisting of the landfill and the engine, rails, wagons and the cavity, which is currently closed due to its potential danger. This was the last exploitation in the 1970s to extract cinnabar, also known as vermilion because of its color, a mineral composed primarily of mercury and used to separate gold and silver from other minerals.

Very spacious castle. The ruins, mostly with remains of walls, are worth seeing, but you shouldn't expect too much. However, the view of Sagunto is outstanding.