R12 – Lucena del Cid
Route
Description of the route
The departure from Lucena del Cid begins with 10 km of ascent through the incredible nature of the region of Alcalatén. Shortly before reaching the next village and finishing the first climb we will have reached the highest point of the Puerto dels Remolcadors. We will follow the CV 190 that will take us to Castillo de Villamalefa where we can recover and enjoy another 10 km downhill that will take us between mountains to Ludiente. Once you pass this village you will have to face a small slope of almost 2Km that you can resist a little for its slope that reaches 6.4%. During the next 5Km you can recover and enjoy the mountain and nature on a comfortable and slightly downhill road. Before arriving at Argelita take the CV 193 which, after crossing the Villahermosa river, presents us again with 21 Km of uphill, known as the Salto del Caballo, with some downhill areas and demanding climbs of up to 12% slope. Before reaching the last climb of this section that can resist us for its difficulty, we will have been able to recover during the previous 5Km of downhill and small slopes that do not present complications. After having done 52 Km of route, you can enjoy the most beautiful part of the route along the river path, parallel to the Pedreñera ravine. We will leave Lucena del Cid to our right and taking the road to Chodos you can relax and get strength passing by the Lucena river to face the hardest part of the route that will test your endurance for 1.5 Km and with which you will have reached 60 Km of route in Mas de la Costa. The end of this route may be familiar to you, as it was the end of the route in the Tour of Spain in 2016, the year in which Segorbe premiered as host of the event. The sweat and effort that the ramps of more than 22% of this final stretch will make you put yourself in the shoes of the professional cyclists competing in the Vuelta España.
Points of interest along the route
Villamalefa Castle (Km 13.7): small town of just 100 inhabitants located next to the Peñagolosa, which makes it a mountainous and irregular area surrounded by forests. It does not have a great cultural heritage, even the castle is currently in ruins. Ludiente (Km 24.5): small municipality located in a valley surrounded by large mountains, which makes its landscape unique. It retains two castles and a tower dating from medieval times. Puerto Salto del Caballo (Km 40): named after the ravine that has this name. The southern slope is the hardest because of its accumulation of unevenness in a few kilometers. It is a quiet road without traffic from which you can see the river Villahermosa and the village of Argelita. Mas de la Costa (Km 61): one of the most demanding climbs you will find in the province of Castellón. Ramps of up to 15% and hard steep slopes between pine forests, a fact that caused it to be in 2016 the end of the route in the Vuelta España.
Known as “The Pearl of the Mountain”, Lucena del Cid is a small municipality in the province of Castellón that belongs to the region of Alcalatén. It has little more than 1,500 inhabitants, but during its summer months it hosts tourists who wish to enjoy its mountain climate and the beauty of its landscapes. The historical moment of the foundation of this town is unknown, but it is attributed to the Romans or even to previous settlements. It was not until 1863 that it was given the name it now receives, since in the seventeenth century its surname was ‘de Aranda’. After the liberal revolution it was called ‘Alcalatén de Valencia’, in the middle of the 19th century it was renamed ‘de Castellón’ and finally, in 1863, it was named ‘Lucena del Cid’. Historically, after the conquest in 1233, it was part of the tenancy of Alcalatén, donated by King James I to the Aragonese Don Pedro Ximén de Urrea. 300 years later it was granted a town charter and a charter of jurisdiction, which turned it into an important commercial center. During the Carlist wars in the nineteenth century Lucena del Cid took the side of the Elizabethan side resisting the Carlist attacks, which led him to be named “Heroic Villa”, a title that can be seen in its coat of arms. Geographically Lucena is distinguished by its outstanding unevenness of more than 1,000 m due to its location between the Pedreñera ravine and the Lucena river. This gives it mountainous landscapes with steep and twisting roads worthy of contemplation. Besides enjoying its landscapes, this small municipality has a great religious heritage that deserves a visit. We can highlight the hermitage-castle of San Miguel de les Torrecelles, a building of Arab origin that was used by Christians for defensive purposes and is currently a station for pilgrims from Les Useres. A famous pilgrimage is held in this hermitage on the second Sunday of May. Also worth visiting is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Ascensión, built in the 18th century in a neoclassical style with baroque evocations. It is worth mentioning the Goldsmith Museum with valuable pieces of sacred art and paintings from different periods. If you feel like spending a quiet weekend here and breathe fresh air with the cycling routes that we suggest, we recommend accommodation such as Hotel Llucena (Avda. Fernando León, 28) for a very affordable price, or for a little more you can book a room at Casa Rural Elina Lucena (Calle La Parra 16). If you fancy something more intimate you can rent the Casa Rural el Prat (Urb. el Prat 15) in the middle of nature.
You cannot leave Lucena without trying its typical food such as ‘olla de cardets’, ‘olla de abstinencia’, rabbit with snails or its typical pastas known as ‘els cocs’. We recommend you to try these homemade dishes in the restaurant La Perla (Plaza España, 7) for a very low price. We also recommend you to try the duck paella at Casa Cano (Calle Iglesia 19, Castillo de Villamalefa), 8 km from Lucena del Cid.
Emita-castle of San Miguel de les Torrecelles: building of Arab origin used for defensive purposes by the Christians. It is currently a station for pilgrims. Church of Our Lady of the Ascension: built in the eighteenth century with a neoclassical style and Baroque reminiscences. Its Goldsmith Museum stands out for its valuable pieces and paintings from different periods. Goldsmith Museum: located inside the church of Nuestra Señora de la Ascensión, it has pieces and paintings from different periods.
Hotel Llucena (Avda. Fernando León, 28): A modern hotel with mountain views.
Casa rural Elina Lucena (Calle La Parra 16): For a higher price we get a house in the center of the village.
Casa Rural el Prat (Urb. el Prat 15): for a slightly higher price you can enjoy this house in the middle of nature.
