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Spanish Culture & Cuisine

“Ayora Honey Festival, Cofrentes and the River

Jucar, Requena, Tren Turístico Montanejos (Ruta de

la Tapa) & Segorbe” Sunday 11th – Thursday 15th October 2020

Highlights of the tour

On Sunday we will make our way from Jávea to Ayora to spend the day at the Honey Festival,

a gastronomic and cultural affair. The honey will be the common thread, but there will also be

booths where there will be craft activities and a large food area where you can taste the

different dishes and the products of the local gastronomy and their surroundings, such as

sausages, meats, wines or cheeses. In addition, to put a festive touch to this celebration, the

event will have different musical performances.

Ayora is Spain’s largest honey producer and the ”Primer Corte de la Miel” (First Cut of the

Honey) is one of the most important fairs in the Valencian Community, declared a Festival of

Tourist Interest and an ideal event for those who want to discover and try this delicious local

product.

Late afternoon we will make our way to the 3* Hotel del Valle, Jalance (dinner and breakfast

included).

Monday morning our coach will take us to the pier where we will board a boat for a river cruise

through the canyons of the Rio Jucar, sailing from Cofrentes to Cortes de Pallás and return (a

30 km journey), with a duration of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

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Toilets and cafeteria available on the pier; air conditioning and panoramic windows on the boat.

There will then be free time for refreshments in Cofrentes or perhaps to visit the castle -

the Keep preserves its late Gothic-Renaissance ornamentation.

Here, you can find The Clock that has recently been restored.

According to experts, the Cofrentes Clock is the oldest in the

Region of Valencia. It was built before the middle 17th century.

There are only two clocks with similar characteristics, one of them

is in the Museum of London (1600) and the other is the clock of

tower of Bernia in Switzerland (1530).

Early afternoon our coach will take us to the Hervideros de Cofrentes spa where we will board

the Cabriel tourist train, a guided tour dedicated to the Cabriel river. Skirting the riverbank,

the train will arrive at Casas del Río, a small village in which a visit is made (15 mins. on foot)

to the 18th century wood waterwheel, restored in 1991. This waterwheel is the only one still

properly working in the Valencian Community and it provides the necessary water for the

irrigable land and the old washing place; a train journey of 24 kms, surrounded by nature (1

hour and 45 minutes, breaks included). Return to the Hotel del Valle, Jalance (dinner and

breakfast included).

On Tuesday morning we will travel to Requena - the narrow streets with houses bearing coats-

of-arms, charming squares and typical houses decorated with tiles and elaborate wrought

ironwork. The castle and keep were built by the Moors. The largest church in Requena, Santa

María, and the church of El Salvador, date to the 14th century and both have impressive

Isabelline Gothic façades. It is home to examples of medieval architecture such as El Cid

Palace and the San Nicolás Church.

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We will have a guided visit to the City Caves – the caves next to the El Salvador church were

used centuries ago as a repository for dead bodies. This particular underground ossuary was

in use until the early 1800s. The steady build-up of bones led to the construction of the town's

first cemetery, far away from the town centre. As we proceed deeper into this intricate

labyrinth, we find ourselves in the caves of the old Town Hall, which presided over the La Villa

square from 1685 until it was demolished in the 19th century. Here was the Requena granary,

a communal storage area used to store grain in times of plenty so that farmers would have

seeds to plant and the poor could have bread to eat after a bad harvest or in times of need.

The most common use was that of a space for the storage and conservation of wine, which was

stored in large vats, accompanied by complementary wine-making elements, such as tanks, teals

for treading the grapes, barrels and tanks for decanting (this tour is included, but optional,

for those who may prefer to spend time on their own sightseeing in Requena).

After free time for refreshments (own choice) we will make our way to Montanejos and check

in to the 3* Hotel Spa Rosaleda del Mijares (dinner and breakfast included).

Hotel Rosaleda del Mijares offers an indoor pool and a River Club

with a terrace, bar and direct access to the natural pools of the

River Mijares. All rooms have a minibar, air conditioning, heating and

a safe. The restaurant serves fresh Mediterranean cuisine and you

can also enjoy drinks and snacks in the café.

You may wish to discover LA VIDIGONERA - craft beer made with water from Montanejos!

After breakfast on Wednesday morning we will have a tour on the Tren

Turístico Montanejos (3½ hours), known as the Ruta de la Tapa as it

includes a tasting of tapa and a drink (beer, wine or water) in the three

villages visited. Return to our hotel – rest of the afternoon free; dinner

included.

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Arañuel Cirat La Alqueria

After breakfast on Thursday morning we will travel to Segorbe, a town which takes you back

to the medieval age. There will be free time to wander the streets, perhaps visiting the Prison

and Executioner’s Towers, the ancient walls, the cathedral, the Fuente de los 50 caños, or

maybe the Olive Oil Museum.

The old olive oil mill of the Belluga building houses the Olive Oil Museum of Segorbe. This

innovative Interpretation Centre offers visitors the opportunity to discover the olive culture

and to enter the world of the precious liquid gold in an encounter with the essence of the

Mediterranean over 7,000 years old. Through interactive audio-visual systems, the exhibition

of machinery and tools used for the different works recreates the traditional elaboration

process of olive oil and its evolution throughout history.

After time for lunch (own choice) we will re-board our coach for the return journey to Jávea.

PROGRAMME

Sunday 11th October

08.30 hrs: Departure from Interiors (opposite side of the road), Jávea port;

08.45 hrs: 2nd pick up at Mas y Mas on the N332 (please let us know at the time of booking

if you require this option); comfort stop en route.

11.15 hrs: Arrival in Ayora and free time to enjoy the festival.

16.00 hrs: Re-board our coach and travel to Jalance.

16.45 hrs: Check in to the 3* Hotel del Valle, Jalance.

19.30 hrs: Dinner for the group (included).

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Monday 12th October

08.00 hrs: Breakfast

09.00 hrs: Coach to the pier where we will board the river boat.

10.00 hrs: River cruise on the Rio Jucar.

11.30 hrs: Free time in Cofrentes.

14.00 hrs: Our coach will take us to the nearby Hervideros de Cofrentes spa where we will

board the Cabriel tourist train.

15.00 hrs: Journey on the Cabriel tourist train (1 hour and 45 minutes, breaks included).

16.45 hrs: Return to the Hotel del Valle, Jalance.

19.30 hrs: Dinner for the group (included).

Tuesday 13th October

08.00 hrs: Breakfast.

09.00 hrs: Check out and travel to Requena.

10.00 hrs: Free time for refreshments.

11.00 hrs: Guided tour of the City Caves or own sightseeing.

12.00 hrs: Free time for refreshments (not included).

14.45 hrs: Board coach and travel to Montanejos.

17.00 hrs: Check in to the 3* Hotel Spa Rosaleda del Mijares; dinner included.

Wednesday 14th October

08.00 hrs: Breakfast.

09.30 hrs: Walk to the boarding point for the Tren Turístico Montanejos.

10.00 hrs: Journey on the Tren Turístico Montanejos (3½ hours),

13.30 hrs: Return to the Hotel Spa Rosaleda del Mijares; rest of the afternoon free; dinner

included.

Thursday 15th October

08.00 hrs: Breakfast.

09.00 hrs: Check out of the hotel and travel to Segorbe.

10.00 hrs: Arrival in Segorbe and free time for own sightseeing and lunch (not included).

15.30 hrs: Board coach for return journey to Jávea; comfort stop en route.

18.15 hrs: Approximate arrival at Mas y Mas on the N332; continue to Interiors, Jávea port.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Transport by coach, half-board accommodation (dinner and breakfast) for 2 nights in the 3*

Hotel del Valle, Jalance and in the 3* Hotel Spa Rosaleda del Mijares, Montenejos; river cruise

on the Rio Jucar and the Cabriel tourist train; guided tour of the Requena Caves; tour on the

Tren Turístico Montanejos; gratuities.

COST

The price in a twin/double room is €320 per person.

The price in a room with sole occupancy is €390 per person (limited number of rooms available).

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BOOKING DATE

The booking date for this trip is Sunday 12th January and, as always, will be on a “first come”

basis. Reservations will be confirmed within 24 hours and once you have received confirmation

of your booking, a deposit of €200 per person will be required by bank transfer, using the bank

ref. code HONEY along with your name/s. If you prefer to pay your deposit in cash, please let

us know. Also please let us know on booking if you wish to board the coach at Mas y Mas on the

N332 instead of at Interiors.

CANCELLATION: In case of subsequent cancellation of your booking, refund of deposit/s can

only be made if your place is sold on to another member/s. You are advised to let the group

leaders know as soon as possible as they may have a reserve list of other members wishing to

participate in the event/trip.

DISCLAIMER: Please see the SC&C page on the Jávea U3A website for information

concerning travel/health insurance.

Group leaders Angela & Tony

spanish.culture.cuisine@u3ajavea.com