Leisure - Bicimetro

0 km

The route starts at Llíria station on Metrovalencia line 1. On the other routes which start at this station we go into the town centre, situated at about 190 metres above sea level. In this town, capital of the Camp de Túria region, there are a little over 20500 inhabitants. Its current agricultural economy is based on fruit and vegetable products, although the majority of its inhabitants work in the industrial and service sectors. The tourism office is in plaza Mayor, where we can collect information on the rich historic heritage of this town: Iberian, Roman, Arabic and Christian.

Here we leave the station and instead of entering the town, we go down the street on the right, pass a roundabout, and between it and the petrol station, we take the road, which takes us to Benissanó. Let yourselves roll along this small road until you have covered about 1 300 metres and are at a point where an imaginary line that exists between the Benissanó castle, us, and on our right, an electricity pylon and a small hill converge. Here we will come across the dirt trail which takes us to the entrance of Benissanó where we will see a small pine forest that serves as a leisure area.

2 km

We are at the portal de Llíria (Llíria gate), next to the castle, which gives us access to the historic town of Benissanó. If we go through Portal de Llíria, we find the castle entrance on our left and on our right, the square and the church. After passing alongside the church square. we come across two more gates, the one leading to Bétera on the northeast and the one leading to Valencia on the east.

The village of Benissanó in the Camp de Túria region– has about 2 000 inhabitants, and is situated at around 130 metres above sea level. Its economy is based on agriculture (citrus, fruit and vegetable products), as well A the wood, textile and construction material sectors.

Benissanó was an old Muslim village. King Pedro III conquered and donated and it to Joan de Próxita in 1277. Until the end of the 15th c it depended on Llíria, and both towns had numerous disputes, which ended in armed conflicts in 1408 and 1576.

In this town the castle-palace of Benissanó stands out. This beautiful architectural work was built over the old Muslim fortress around the second half of the 15th century by mósen Luis Vilarrasa de Cavanilles. It is a small rectangular fortress with the tower of Homenaje in the central part and big windows of a clear gothic influence. It had a drawbridge and a circular moat which are currently blocked. The barbican is extremely solid and has a merlon (with high and low walls) and loopholes put up at the apex of its defensive towers. It has unfortunately suffered many modifications and restorations. The most important one was done in 1900 and it distorted its original aspect. It is a privately owned by the marquis of Monistrol, but it is managed by the town hall of Benissanó and can be visited. Inside, its large old vaults formed by two floors, a vaulted basement and a lower ground floor with beamed ceiling are remarkable. The most important rooms in the castle-palace are the so-called chambers of the king of France, Francis the 1st who was held prisoner here in 1525, after being defeated at the battle of Pavía. In front of the castle is the Santos Reyes parish church. The first building was built around 1925 on the same site where an old church was. It had one nave with side chapels and half point arches, and was built in the Mudejar style. To the right side is the square bell tower. Also significant, are the three gates, which lead to medieval Benissanó.

We leave again going south and cycle on an asphalted road first and then on a dirt trail. Notice the “Pequeño Recorrido” (short trail) markings. Get onto the road we had taken from Llíria, only some metres further down. Go uphill to the right. When the road opens in the shape of a V, go left. After cycling some 700 metres, notice the “Pequeño Recorrido” (short trail) markings on the left. Continue among orange and artichoke fields where, early in the morning, hares can be seen. We go down a new link road to Benaguasil until we reach a roundabout. Cross it straight on towards the sports centre, and then the Metrovalencia station of Benaguasil. Go over the level crossing and into the town.

5,5 km

Benaguasil (Camp de Túria region). Around 10 000 people live here, and it is situated at about 150 metres above sea level. In Benaguasil the textile, leather goods and ceramic industries contribute to the economic development of the village. Citrus fruits and vegetables (onions and artichokes) are also cultivates and sold.

Of its architectural heritage we can single out the church and the sanctuary.

The Nuestra Señora parish church is in the main square. It was constructed between 1703 and 1737. It has a square bell tower and a nave with transept, barrel vault and a circular dome. The side chapels are joined and go over the aisles to the central nave. The sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Montiel is on the Montiel hill (252 m). If we go up to the top we will enjoy vast and attractive panoramic views. About the sanctuary, we can remark that it takes its origin from the discovery of a picture of the Virgin in 1620. The first shrine built dates from 1644. Later, between 1795 and 1801, the current church of a classical style was erected and in 1916 the façade was restored. Inside, there are 8 side altars in addition to the main one. At the end of the last century a cavern-like chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph, was excavated. Next to the sanctuary is the convent of the Capuchin Tertiary nuns.

Once the level crossing is passed, we cross the town along Joanot Martorell street (where there is a signpost indicating the Montiel sanctuary). We turn left on Trinquet and end up on a main street, Pedralava, which crosses Benaguasil on a slight descent until we come to the foot of the Montiel hill and see the old Renfe station which is now an avenue. We are at the 6.8 kilometre mark and leave Benaguasil by taking the avenue left. Continue on a dirt trail that ends up at the road next to the bridge, which crosses the trench through where the trains used to circulate. Notice the “Pequeño Recorrido” (short trail) markings and later more markings that will guide us to the places in the Túria that we are going to visit.

10 km

We come across a road with some traffic, but going downhill we soon arrive at a junction with the CV-50 at the kilometre 10 mark of our ride. We cross it and go on to an asphalted rural road which goes through the farmsteads and mills on the left bank of the Túria: el Mas de Baixo, el Mas del Molino and el Mas del Río.

13,7 km

Mas del Río (on the other side of the Túria, Mas del Fraile). A PR marking guides us behind the farmstead to cross La rambla Primera about 400 metres further below.. Once we cross it, the asphalt disappears and a bit further on, the very same road is again asphalted. On our right the PR sign indicates the existence (in case we hadn’t seen it) of an irrigation channel. Go up the irrigation channel, which is covered and follow it alongside the small house, which sits on top of it and, again, go onto a road that shortly turns uphill. We will come across another asphalted road. To the left, we would have shortly reached the leisure area called La FENOSA.

Getting close to the water of the Túria is difficult because there are only small inlets along the river, which are used by fishermen. On the rest of its banks there is a tangle of canes that suffocate the black poplars, elms and other non-local trees like robinias. The Fenosa leisure area is the exception to the rule and lets locals enjoy the waters of the Túria. Despite the green jungle that the banks of Túria have become, we can see aquatic birds like the heron, little bittern, moorhens or the mallard.

We carry on with our itinerary to the right and again reach an asphalted road where we turn left and which becomes a dirt trail near rambla Castellana. Here we will go downhill in order to cross it. We have travelled 17,2 kilometres. Carry on alongside the river and on our right there is a sand and cement quarry.

17,6 km

Finally, we cross the river. A short but steep hill and we are on the right bank plain of the Túria.
We cycle on flat ground alongside some houses and come to a road on our right that we take to cross this section of plain in the direction to the power station upstream. The water of the Túria, which is channelled under the Pea Hills, feeds it. An extension of the station has cut the road so the last 100 m have to be done on a lane drawn through the carob and olive fields. From the door of the station on, there is an asphalted road that leads us downstream again.

20,1 km

200 metres from the power station and on our right we come across the second road that goes to the Pea Hills. Here our itinerary gives us two options: the long route, which requires a certain dose of adventurous spirit, and the short one for more relaxed cyclotourists.

The short one consists only in continuing on the asphalted road downhill along the river Túria.

The long one, that we will continue describing goes to Pea Hills on a dirt trail. It is a small hill but is full of rabbits and gives shelter to buzzards, short-toed eagle, Bonelli’s eagle and booted eagles. Unfortunately a part of it was burnt in the summer of 2006.

We start to go up on a slight ascent with the burnt landscape on our right until we reach the top. We start to go down through the road, which consists of fine gravel and earth. .We see some minor less firm forks. Ignore them and go down on a stronger slope, where the asphalt returns, but is full of holes. Carry on, taking care not to miss the road that we have to take downhill on our left in the watercourse that forms a small gully.

22,2 km

Ahora viene el peor tramo de todo el recorrido. Mejor hacerlo a pie pues el camino está muy erosionado y lleno de piedras. Subimos 100 metros hasta la primera loma y paramos pues seguro lo necesitaremos, a contemplar el paisaje. Podemos observar los efectos del incendio, aunque los primeros rebrotes de esparto y otros arbustos tapizan ya la zona. En las laderas apreciaremos unos parapetos de ramaje quemado que parecen formar bancales y que sirven para evitar la erosión del suelo de las pendientes. Montamos de nuevo a en la bici, llaneamos un poquito y de nuevo subimos.

22,9 km

We are at the highest point of the route next to the Paridera geodesic vertex at 226m above sea level. From here we can enjoy beautiful views. We leave the burnt area behind and we go along flat ground then descend a little until we come to a firm gravel path. The road we have to take is on our right some 100 metres lower. Again a path, perfect for trail bike riding with some sections which are not very good on our wheels.

24,4 km

The “trail path” which takes us along the mountain meets up with a house and a firm gravel path. Take a left and continue downhill until you come across an asphalted road that we will follow to the right and which is in the direction of our descent. Again we end up on another road that we will follow to the right on the light pleasant descent on the camí del corral d’Alquissa road.

27,3 km

We meet up again with ‘the short trail’ but four further kilometres down. Turn right (downhill as you already know) and 600 metres further on we leave it (just before an ascent) through a small, asphalted road, which borders the small hill that hinders the view of Vilamarxant. This road from Molinet, is very pleasant to cycle on because there is very little traffic. It is part of a local trail with views of the Huerta Mayor of Vilamarxant.

30 km

We enter Vilamarxant from behind a petrol station. This village is in the Camp del Túria region and some 700 people live here. Its economy is still mainly based on agriculture, although some small industries, especially ceramics and construction have flourished over the past few years.

Among its monuments there is the tower of Pedralba. It is of Arabic origin, is in the old centre of the town and is in a bad state of repair. However, what will attract most of our attention, when we get closer to this villa of merchants, as its name means, is the parish church of Santa Catalina Mártir, which is remarkable for its bell tower with a dome covered in white and blue ceramic tiles.

31,5 km

We get back on the road to Benaguasil from where we came, go uphill and 800 metres further on, leave it, turning right at the Vilanova housing estate turnoff. We follow the PR markings and then turn left. The road was asphalted a short time ago. Downhill again, and we turn left on the first road and ride on flat ground through the cultivated  orange groves.

33,8 km

We reach a junction, and turn right on a dirt path and soon see a big irrigation pool and another junction. If we go straight on we take the short road that passes close to the entrance of the Santa María monastery. This is a dirt trail. If we turn right downhill on asphalt, we take the long way, which will lead us to the old railway bridge above the Túria. In fact, 600 metres ahead we will leave the asphalted road to cross over the remains of the old train tracks, and connect with a dirt trail which goes down alongside the tracks, but on the other side and which will take us down to the banks of Túria.

35,4 km

We are at the foot of the metallic bridge that formed part of the old wide tracked railway between Valencia and Llíria. In this area, as in the rest of the Túria banks, it will be difficult for us to have access to the water but there are some holes between the sugar cane where you can sneak through.

We pass under the bridge on a road that almost always has some puddle of water under the canopy of canes that are covering it. 200 metres further we see the trail turn left in search of the hillside. Follow it and on a slight ascent we will come across an asphalted road. We are once again on the road which we came doen on and that we will leave to cross the tracks again. But we do not stay on it too long because afterwards, alongside the stone walls surrounding the monastery we will take a dirt track.

37 km

After 500m we go back to the short road, follow the dirt track, and 700 metres further on to our right we leave it for a small, asphalted road (coinciding with route 10) that will take us for almost four kilometres through the fertile lands on the left banks of the Túria in Riba-Roja. This ride is pure bliss, especially at the early or late hours of the afternoon, so it is better to do it slowly.

41,8 km

We end up next to the bridge above the Túria, which allows access to Ribarroja. A few metres behind, on our right we can see the old bridge, now for pedestrians and cyclists. We will take to the Ribarroja metro station in the future but right now we will follow the road to l’Eliana and turn onto the VV-41004 on a slight ascent. In less than two kilometres it will take us to the end of our itinerary.

45 km o 38,7km

At the second roundabout and to our left the Clot train halt on line 1.