Castles of the Valencian Community that you can reach by bike

Lives from ancient times, stories of fortresses from which one tried to dominate a territory, ruthless and cruel struggles for power, tales of love and sorrow. Castles are undoubtedly one of the most fascinating architectural elements of past centuries. Castles are a mixture of feelings: they are built between the fear of fierce enemy attacks and the ambition to show who commanded the territory. Castles are often built from the sweat and blood of slaves, but at the same time spaces that can only fascinate us.

The Valencian Community is a land of castles that hold thousands of stories, and can be reached by bike, even if it is only by climbing the occasional steep ramp. Because yes: castles tended to be built in height to preserve the safety of their inhabitants... and because of the high view of those who reigned over them.

In this post are some castles in the Community that you can get to by bike. They are all unmissable!

Castillo de Cullera

Castillo de Cullera is an imposing fortress built by the Caliphate of Córdoba in the 9th century to control the natural resources, communication routes and borders of the region. In addition, it fulfilled the function of sheltering troops, cavalry, cattle and population when they tried to besiege the city. Around the castle we can find different towers and fortified sections: Torre de la Reina Mora, Torre Miranda, Torre del Racó de San Antonio, Torre Desmochada and Torre Octogonal.

In the 11th century it became part of the defenses of the Taifa of Valencia. According to the story of the Cantar del Mío Cid, Cullera was one of the fortifications looted in the campaign of attacks orchestrated by the Campeador, made at night and treachery in the face of Almoravid impotence. According to the story, King Yussuf had to take refuge in Cullera after the failed attempt to recover the city of Valencia in order to save his life.

Later it passed into Christian hands after the conquest of James I, and in the 16th century it was a defense against Barbary pirates, also playing a leading role in the War of Independence and the Carlist Wars in the 19th century.

So, if you think that's not reason enough to visit it by bike, you don't have a soul.

You can get to the castle by bike from Cullera itself, in the area near the famous San Antonio beach, accessing it from Ramiro Pedro Fort street, where you will find a crossroads at the height of the Blasco Ibañez Institute that takes you will lead to climb for just over a kilometer along the Pujada Santuari, on a climb that without being a constant slope can be quite difficult if you want to get there by urban bike. You will have no problem if you have decided to conquer the castle by road bike, being able to connect to many cycling spots on the Costa Blanca such as Jávez, Calpe or Altea.

By the way, you can visit the castle for 3 euros from Monday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Highly recommended.

Castillo de Morella

Castillo de Morella is another of those forts built to assault everyone's sight from a distance. Built on top of the rock, this castle dates back to the 13th century. Its Islamic architecture is combined with traces of medieval architecture resulting from later reforms. It was in Morella where King Jaime I began his much-reported Reconquest.

In addition, before the construction of the castle it has been possible to certify the existence of human settlements, finding remains from the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age and Iberian remains. In other words, there has been no historical population that has not set foot in Morella and accessed its imposing mola.

To perpetuate the history of the people who have passed through the Castle of Morella, what less than to do the same as the good cycling tribe that you are. 

You can access the entrance to the enclosure located in the same place as the Plaza de Toros de Morella, which can be visited together. We recommend that you access the historic center of Morella through the Torres de San Miguel, which will make you smell the history that Morella houses. Keep in mind, however, that the historic center of Morella is entirely paved, so you have to be careful if you access it by road bike, lest you take a fall from a Tour of Flanders as a souvenir...

You can connect the visit with routes coming from areas such as Vinarós, Benicarló or Peñíscola which will take you approx 4 h to reach the castle. The general entrance fee is 3.50 euros and you can visit the rooms from 11am to 5pm.

Castillo de Sagunto

Castillo de Sagunto is located on top of the hill that protects the town of the same name. Located two hours by bike from the city of Valencia, this castle has a history of two thousand years, with the first settlements in the area by the Iberians. Although the castle is of mainly Roman origin, few remains, with a mixture of Iberian, Roman, Gothic and Arabic culture shrouding this fortress in a history that is hard to match.

It has seven independent enclosures or squares, and inside its walls currently houses the Epigraphic Antiquarium, with some of the most relevant inscriptions from the past centuries in Spain. If you are one of those who likes to decipher secret codes and coded messages, surely you will have a great time here.

You can access the castle, whose entrance is free, through the street of the Castell that… is also cobbled like the access to the castle of Morella. So you know, cycle with caution if you approach with your light bike.

Castillo de Santa Bárbara

Castillo de Santa Barbara is located in the city of Alicante and can be reached by bicycle from Vázquez de Mella street, where you will find different signs that will help you get there. The climb is on a road in fairly good condition and not excessively steep.

Located on top of Mount Benacantil, 166 m high, it is one of the most extensive medieval fortresses in Spain, from where you can see the Bay of Alicante. At its highest point we find the archetypal Torre del Homenaje, which houses the oldest remains of the fortress, dating back to the fourteenth century.

Admission to the venue is free and it is open from Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. As a curiosity, at the time these lines were being written the castle was closed for the filming of the musical "Road to Bethlehem", producer of the mythical American series Glee.

Castillo de Sax

Castillo de Sax sits atop a rocky outcrop in this beautiful town of Alicante, another one of those fascinating glimpses of history that can be found on the outskirts of the Serra del Maigmó protected landscape, one of the many Natural Parks in the Valencian community.

It is located 3 hours by bike from the city of Alicante, and its only handicap is that it is generally not open to interior visits, although you can get closer to its surroundings by various stairs. You can easily circumvent this fortification grafted onto an imposing rock formation once you access the town of Sax.