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Marjal dels Moros
The wetland used to cover the whole area between Albufera and Canet de Berenguer, further along the coast. Its destruction started with the cultivation of rice. Later, due to the drop in crop prices, the land was gradually sold for the construction of seaside holiday homes, which completely destroyed the wetland and broke it up into smaller areas; of these only the wetland of Rafalell and Vistabella remains, located in Massamagrell and the Valencian foothills of Rafalell and Vistabella.
History
Near Sagunto the wetland was also destroyed, in this case as a possible area for expanding the Altos Hornos del Mediterráneo (steel company). In 1995 the steelworks closed and the Regional Government of Valencia bought this industrial estate covering about 800 hectares; about 300 hectares were defined as a wetland and catalogued as special protected land which cannot be developed. In 1996 it was declared a Special Bird Protection Area.
The remaining 500 hectares were declared Urban Land for industrial purposes, where Sagunto’s industrial estate is being built, just next to the wetland.
The town halls of Puçol and Sagunto have put in place a bird protection system, as well as infrastructures for bird watching and to protect it from rising sea waters, to ensure salty sea water does not enter the wetland. In recent years dry lands have been recovered with the creation of new ponds and the demolition of the last buildings remaining in the wetland. Hunting and fishing are forbidden, and the only activity allowed within the protected area is livestock farming in some designated areas of the same. These combined measures have made it possible to preserve the natural value of the area, despite the expansion of Sagunto’s industrial estate, which leaves the wetland literally fenced in between the industrial estate and Puçol’s seaside buildings.
Birds
Despite its small size and the many threats it faces, La Marjal dels Moros is home to some large bird populations of several species, including seriously endangered species.
One of the highlights in springtime are the flocks of different types of wading birds that come here to breed, including colonies of common terns, little terns, pratincoles and stilts; we should also note the colony of whiskered tern, which is the most representative species of this protected nature area. Among the duck species, there is a large breeding population of red-crested pochard, which is increasingly rare in Valencia. The marbled duck is another endangered species that breeds here, and the Marjal marks its northernmost location in Europe. In wintertime we can see large flocks of little egret and northern shoveller, as well as spectacular gatherings of large cormorants, and it is not uncommon to see pink flamingos, great white egret or glossy ibis.
Fish
In La Marjal we also find a great number of local fish species, such as the samaruc and the fartet, typical of this wetland, where we can also find some reptiles and amphibians, such as salamanders and cullerots.
Vegetation
The predominant types of vegetation are carrizo phragmittes communis and enea typha dominguensis. There is salt marsh vegetation including species like salicornia, arthrocnemum and limonium, among others. The wetland contains several species of rushes and reeds. The water vegetation is very poor, and is practically limited to a few species of chara algae.
The Marjal is currently in grave danger due to Sagunto’s Industrial Estate, the regasification plant and power station of Sagunto, rising sea levels (the wetland is a bare 10 metres from the shore), poaching and the destruction of cane and reed areas for cultivation.
More information |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li2O5pwYhc4&list=PLezQL5eJ_2dvm5aqCugWWQRpZs14T41EI&index=21
La Costera
Vegetation is mostly of the Mediterranean scrubland type, as well as including pine trees, kermes oaks, carob and olive trees. All of this makes La Costera an area of remarkable landscapes and of great botanical, ecologic and geomorphologic interest.
Given this situation and in order to protect the area from any form of urban aggression, so common nowadays around the Mediterranean, help was requested to appropriately protect this local green lung. Catalogued as a Municipal Nature Park, it is protected from housing developments and any other use that may endanger the integrity of this nature zone; ecological and environmental activities will also be promoted.
Vegetation
Most of the hill is covered in the Mediterranean scrubland vegetation typical in warm regions, basically comprising kermes oak, mastic, juniper, rockrose, rosemary and thyme. We might also see some carob trees, olive trees, fig trees and almond trees, a testament to the agricultural use the area once had. There are quite a number of white pine trees, forming woodlands in some areas, and in recent years repopulation schemes have been carried out to reintroduce holm oaks, that were sure to have dominated the hill centuries ago.
Fauna
The proximity of inhabited areas limits the fauna to insects and some reptiles, such as lizards. Several bird species also use the area as a stopover and to scavenge for food left by visitors, occasionally this also attracts small carnivore animals like foxes and ferrets. Other mammals seen in the area include shrews and rabbits.
Getting here
In order to enjoy the landscape of La Costera you must take the path to the cemetery and pass under the motorway, where the path becomes the Molí de Vent way.
Approximately 2 km from the start we will see the first houses belonging to the Alfinach estate and the old industrial warehouses, now converted into Aula Natura, a multi-purpose space, and other public offices.
Aula Natura
Aula Natura is an old warehouse, measuring 200m in length, that has been renovated by ‘escuelas taller’ (workshop schools). This venue is to be used for organized trips with small groups of children and young people so they can learn about the valuable natural resources found in La Costera natural park.
Another green space we currently have is the Finca Municipal de la Costera.
It is located in western part of the town and can be accessed following the ‘Camí Molí de Vent’ way, (a continuation of Avenida Molí de Vent).
The Finca covers 517,245 m2 and belongs to the town hall. It comprises a Youth Hostel with capacity for 25 people, leisure areas and areas that have been reforested with pines and local vegetation.
More informationVisit AE-AGRÓ +34 691 077 424 +34 679 908 238 |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li2O5pwYhc4&list=PLezQL5eJ_2dvm5aqCugWWQRpZs14T41EI&index=21
Routes
GR-10 European long-distance footpath
Did you know that the Mediterranean and the Atlantic are connected via a GR long-distance footpath, GR-10, that links Puçol with Lisbon? In Puçol the starting point for this route is La Costera natural park, and it is the longest path in the peninsula, covering 1600 km. The path is integrated in the European Network of Long-Distance Paths.
The way starts in Puçol, on the Mediterranean coast, and goes through the Sierra Calderona mountain range, passing through Segart, Serra and Gátova. The total length of the path going through the Region of Valencia is 112 km (125km to Abejuela); of these, 74km lie within the province of Valencia and 38 within the province of Castellón. The GR-10 path, European E7, is part of the European Network of Long-Distance Paths. These 1,600 km that lie between Puçol and Lisbon connect the two seas that enclose the peninsula.
The GR (Gran Recorrido) Long-Distance Paths are a European network of footpaths covering Spain and part of Europe, including mainly paths, footpaths, trails, tracks, and in some locations, roads. It is possible to cross Spain in different directions, journey through France or wander around Europe following these paths --what an adventure!
Making the most of the quantity and variety of these paths, we can enjoy walking along these routes and discovering different parts of Spain. In our region we have, among others, the GR 36, an iconic and relatively easy footpath that crosses the Sierra de Espadán range, starting in Montanejos and reaching Vilavella, or the other way round, all within the province of Castellón, which is said to be the second most mountainous province in Spain by those in the know. This GR is also known as the Trans-Espadan.
Via Augusta
The Via Augusta is slightly shorter, covering 1500 km in total. This Roman road connected the Pyrenees with Cadiz, and is perfectly way-marked as it goes through Puçol. It is currently mostly a paved route, and it extends over 425 km in the Region of Valencia, a significant amount of this route lying within 25 km of the Mediterranean sea.
The Via Augusta was the longest road in all Hispania, reaching from the Pyrenees and bordering the Mediterranean sea as far as Cadiz, in the south of Spain. Although many of its original sections are now roads and are not walkable, if you wish to follow part of this route you can walk along sections that coincide with the old itinerary.
This Roman road links at least 96 monuments. It forms part of the European Union ‘Roman Roads in the Mediterranean’ initiative, and besides a wealth of cultural attractions, also offers stunning landscapes that you can enjoy on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Choose your preferred sections or create a personalized route, the even level of this way makes walking easy. Moreover, the mild Mediterranean climate makes it possible to follow this journey practically any time of year.
You will come across the remains of mansions, bridges and triumphal arches such as that of Cabanes (Castellón), in an unforgettable journey that will take you through locations like Jávea and Elche (Alicante) or Sagunto (Valencia), where you can visit its Roman Theatre, approximately 9 kilometres from Puçol. Fruit orchards, especially orange groves, will accompany you along the way. Furthermore, you cannot miss the magnificent landscapes surrounding the Via Augusta, such as Las Palmas Desert in Castellón, or the nature reserves of Albufera in Valencia and Carrascal de la Font Roja in Alicante.
Via Verde
Literally ‘Green Way’, also known as the ‘Via Xurra’ or ‘cholesterol way’, the Via Verde follows the old tracks of the mining railway line that used to run between Valencia and Calatayud. It is a quiet route through the farmlands between Valencia and Puçol, running for a total distance of 15 km.
The Central de Aragón Railway Company built the Valencia-Puçol line in 1901, the first section of a more ambitious line that would connect Calatayud and Zaragoza via Teruel. This railway company was awarded the tender in 1887, although the original project was limited to a 133 km line between Calatayud and Teruel. A year later the tender was extended to reach Valencia through the Palencia valley, however, seven more years would go by before any works were carried out.
Finally, in 1894, the Belgians come to our country and provided the necessary capital to build the railway line. Construction works started immediately and were finished seven years later. Thus, two different broad-gauge rail lines co-existed in northern part of Valencia, running practically parallel: the Central de Aragón line (along which the Via Verde currently runs between Puçol and Valencia), and the line belonging to the Compañía del Norte, going from Valencia to Castellón.
This situation continued unchanged until the creation of RENFE (Spanish National Rail) in 1941. It then became apparent that this double track, now belonging to a single company, was not very logical, and traffic was gradually diverted to the Northern line.
In 1968 the railway line was closed and the Valencia-Alameda station was demolished, leaving only the Cabanyal connection in operation as a back-up to the main line. Nonetheless, once a double track started operating on the main line, the Via Xurra was considered useless and it was definitively closed and later dismantled in 1985.
After lying forgotten for over a decade, the Department of Public Works, Urban Development and Transport of the Regional Government of Valencia, decided to recover this route converting it into a cycle lane, which provides an independent accessible route for walkers and cyclists to the L’Horta Nord district removed from the busy roads of this area.
Ruta del Agua (Water Way)
The Ruta del Agua is a local short-distance path over flat land, that combines nature and culture. It runs through the historic town centre and along the banks of the Chelva river. The duration of the route is approximately three hours long and it shows us the different uses of water locally: for drinking water, irrigation, milling, generating electricity etc.
It follows the water’s course throughout the irrigation canals built in different historic periods, which were a masterpiece of engineering that made it possible to dry the old Marjal of Puçol and convert this wetland into agricultural land, benefitting from natural water springs.
Ruta del Cid (the Cid’s Way)
Last of all, the Ruta del Cid (the Cid’s Way), which connects Burgos and Valencia, passing through Guadalajara and Teruel, also crosses the municipality of Puçol. The town thus becomes an adventure crossroads for travellers who wish to follow in history’s steps.
More information |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li2O5pwYhc4&list=PLezQL5eJ_2dvm5aqCugWWQRpZs14T41EI&index=21
