R13 – Montanejos
Route
Description of the route
If you have already done the initiation routes and you are ready to face routes with a higher level of difficulty, we recommend Montanejos. Almost 85 km of mountain road, at the foot of the Peñagolosa, which begin and end in the center of the village.
The beginning of this stage is hard, because it starts with a slope, which will be maintained for 21 km. Shortly after leaving Montanejos by the CV 195 you will have to face the hardest stretch of the route, which presents a climb with a gradient of up to 14.8%. Once you have passed San Vicente on the CV196, you can relax your legs on the Llano de la Cañada. From this point you have 16 km of practically downhill ahead of you. Along the way you will come across Villahermosa del Río, where you can enjoy the surrounding nature and the river that accompanies the road. From Los Corrales (Km 35) the road becomes more winding and serpentine, so you will have to concentrate on the road. Shortly before reaching Villamalefa Castle, the ascent of the second pass begins, much smoother than the previous one, so there will be no complications. In addition, once you reach the top of the pass, you have another 10 km downhill to recover and prepare for the final stretch. Just at this point you will reach Ludiente, from which point the route becomes more irregular and presents small ups and downs until you reach Montanejos again. After passing through Argelita and Torrechiva, following the CV20, you will find a small steep slope at the height of El Tormo and another one when passing through Cirat, which you will be able to manage without much effort. If you have managed to get here, the last 5 km will not require much effort and you can enjoy the ride through the natural wonders of this municipality.
Points of interest along the route
Puerto de Artejuela (Km 20): pass 3 Km from Montanejos with a road in good condition that has sections with steep slopes of up to 12%. Church of the Nativity of Our Lady – Villahermosa del Río (Km 27.9): cataloged as an Asset of Local Relevance, this church is located in the center of the village. Inside the church there is a parish museum, a collection of artistic objects from different periods. Castillo de Villamalefa: small municipality 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. El Castillo de Ludiente (Km 53): medieval Islamic castle located in the town center. Parish Church of Santa Ana-Argelita (Km 60.3): located in the center of the church square, it has been catalogued as an Asset of Local Relevance. Built under the guidelines of the baroque style. In its interior it houses a relic of the Holy Cross. Parish Church of San Miguel – Arañuel (Km 79): located in the Main Square of the village, inhabited by little more than 100 inhabitants. It is characterized by its neoclassical style with characteristics of the Corinthian order.
In the middle of Alto Mijares, between Teruel and Castellón, we find this small natural paradise: Montanejos. With just over 600 inhabitants, it is the epicenter of inland tourism. The passage of the Muslim people through Montanejos has left as a mark the most precious asset that currently has the people: its thermal baths in the middle of the natural landscape and the spa. Among the many natural resources offered by the village we can enjoy walks along the path of the river, bathing in natural pools and resting in its fountains. The Fuente de los Baños, as one of the tourist centers of Montanejos, is a spring that maintains a temperature of 25º during almost the whole year, reason why it has been considered beneficial for the health. For this reason, the town is known for its thermal center, built in 1997, which uses water from the same Fuente de los Baños. Apart from the large number of thermal treatments for both therapeutic and aesthetic purposes, in Montanejos you will find the relaxation and wellness you need to unwind. Its geographical location leaves us natural wonders such as ‘El Chorro’, a drainage point of the Arenoso reservoir, or ‘La Cueva Negra’, a cave of geological interest that we can find at the beginning of the Sendero de la Bojera. But Montanejos also offers other places of interest and monuments of great relevance. The Castle, for example, located at the top of the mountain and is now practically in ruins after the important role it has played throughout history. You should not miss the church built in the late eighteenth century with a style called academicism, characterized by classicism and balance.
If you want to visit the village during the month of August, with the celebration of its main festivals, you may find the accommodation expensive or even sold out.
Fuente de los Baños: spring of tourist attraction. It keeps 25º all year round and is considered beneficial for health due to its properties and effects. El Chorro: outlet of the Arenoso reservoir . La Cueva Negra: cave located at the beginning of the Bojera Trail. A cave of geological interest that has undergone numerous excavations that date back to the Neolithic period. Castle of Montanejos: currently almost in ruins, we can find it at the top of the mountain. Church of Montanejos: built at the end of the 18th century. Of academicist style.
Hotel Rosaleda del Mijares (Carretera de Tales, 28): offers spa, treatments and restaurant.
Hotel Xauen (Avda. Fuente de Baños, 26): offers spa, treatments and restaurant.
Hostal Casa Ovidio (Avenida Elvira Peiró, 41): has a restaurant.
Hotel La Valenciana (Calle San Jaime, 20): has a restaurant.
