Located in the region of the Marina Baja, in the province of Alicante, Guadalest is a municipality that has existed since the Muslim period. Castell de Guadalest is recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, standing imposingly in the Guadalest Valley, between the Xortá and Serrella mountain ranges. In addition, this historic village has spectacular views of the reservoir, another treasure to see in Guadalest, .
The castle built on the rock of the mountain itself, its picturesque whitewashed white houses and the intense blue of the reservoir in the background, create an idyllic image of this village. Guadalest Castle also has the rich cuisine of Alicante and local wines, making it an even more attractive destination. Let’s discover it!
To find out what else you can visit in the province of Alicante, check out our post: Things to see and do in Alicante.
Things to see in Guadalest
The village welcomes you via a rock tunnel through the mountain on which the castle is built. The cobbled streets that make up the town centre create a very special medieval atmosphere. Walking through the streets, we come across numerous craft shops and local products, museums and restaurants. Heading towards the central square of the village, we find the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, until we reach the town hall. The town hall is located in the central square of the village where you can enjoy impressive views of the Guadalest Valley, as well as the reservoir.
Castell de Guadalest was declared a historic-artistic site in 1974. It is also an Asset of Cultural Interest. If you are wondering what to see in El Castell de Guadalest, and what is so worthwhile in this village, here are the essential stops.
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The Castle of San José
The Castle of San José is an 11th century fortress, which was created by the Muslims. It is built into the rock of the mountain, in the highest part of the municipality. This castle, thanks to its strategic location, played a very important role throughout the Middle and Modern Ages. It is the highest point of the village and one of the mandatory visits when in Guadalest.
The Alcozaiba Castle
This fortress is located in the domain of the old Casa Orduña. Nowadays, only a ruined tower remains next to the Castle of San José. It is a watchtower from the same period as the castle, but restored in the 20th century. It is one of the most symbolic images of the village, and an essential stop to see in Guadalest.
The Orduña House
The Orduña House was built after the great earthquake of 1644 that devastated the region, by the Basque family of the Orduña. As the Orduñas enjoyed the full confidence of the Marquises, they were sent to Guadalest. They acted for almost three hundred years as governors of the fortress and governors of the Marquisate.
Nowadays, it has been converted into the Municipal Museum where the noble house and its rooms are exhibited. It has several exhibition rooms and access to the Castle of San José.
Guadalest Reservoir
The reservoir and dam of Guadalest is one of the most beautiful places in the province of Alicante and an essential place to see in Guadalest. The water of this reservoir comes from the Guadalest river and paints the setting of this picturesque village in blue. The reservoir, in addition to adding beauty to Guadalest, has a very simple and pleasant route. It goes around the entire reservoir so you can admire this wonderful natural landscape up close.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What museums to visit in Guadalest?
One of the classics of Guadalest are its curious museums that show the craftsmanship and work of local artists. You certainly cannot visit Guadalest without visiting one of its museums, as they illustrate the culture and historical traditions of the village.
Microminiatures Museum
The Museum of Microminiatures is an exhibition based on replicas of world-renowned art made into tiny objects. Here, you will find among other amazing objects, the Statue of Liberty inside the eye of a needle, Goya’s The Shooting of the 2nd of May, painted on a grain of rice, The Naked Maja painted on the wing of a fly, among others. All these pieces are the work of Manuel Ussá, one of the best micro-miniaturists in the world.
Ethnological Museum
The Ethnological Museum was created to represent the way of life and work of the past populations of Guadalest. This museum is located in a typical 18th-century house, built on rock, inside the old town. It was a fortress of Arab origin, which could be accessed through a tunnel excavated in the stone. Moreover, the entrance door is still preserved, recreating the history of this village.
Museum Collection of Historic Vehicles
This museum has a collection of some 140 motorbikes and several microcars in perfect condition and totally original, dating from the 1920s to the 1970s. It is a journey back in time that will allow you to admire and appreciate these pieces even more.
This museum is located in a large room that catches the eye as soon as you enter, due to its architectural beauty. In addition, the museum is decorated with various antiques such as sewing machines, typewriters, coffee machines, telephones and radios that perfectly match the environment.
What to see and do around Guadalest?
Guadalest’s geography is one of its main treasures. Its strategic location allows us to admire the Guadalest Valley, a mountainous area of great natural interest. Among all the mountains that make up the valley, the Sierra de Aitana stands out for its size and altitude.
Its peak stands at 1,558 metres, being the highest above sea level in the whole of the Valencian Community. This makes Guadalest very attractive for those looking for rural tourism in the area.
Hiking
Guadalest offers its visitors several routes to enjoy its natural environment, as well as beautiful views of the valley and the Guadalest reservoir. The area of El Castell de Guadalest also has numerous routes to explore, but two stand out as the most interesting. The first is the route that leads to the summit of the Sierra de Xortá. The other is the one that leads to the nearby village of Castell de Castells. Both routes share a good part of the way up to the Loma Blocón and both trails have marvellous views of the reservoir.
The route that leads to the summit of Xortá is the more technical of the two, with a total distance of 15.8 km and the greatest accumulated height gain. The summit is at 1,218 metres. On the other hand, there is a less technical option that takes us to Castell de Castells. This route is somewhat shorter than the previous one (about 13 km) and has a lower difference in altitude, slightly above 800m.
Almond trees in blossom
Any time of the year is a good time to visit Guadalest, but if it coincides with the almond blossom, the sights of this beautiful village will be even more spectacular. Thousands of almond trees covered with pink and white flowers grow in the valley, creating an unforgettable setting. The time when they usually blossom is in mid-February, so you have the perfect excuse to take a trip and enjoy the spectacle.
What to eat in Guadalest?
Castell de Guadalest offers its visitors a rich, varied and traditional cuisine. You will find dishes from the national, international and local cuisine of the area. Among the most typical recipes are rabbit with “all i oli”, stuffed peppers, baked vegetables, “L’olleta de blat“, as well as a wide variety of rice dishes, made with natural products. The star dish is definitely the wheat pot, olleta de blat, a recipe made with wheat and local vegetables, such as pumpkin, turnip or chard and pork.
Moreover, in some of the local shops you can find very good quality food products, all of them produced locally. You can find sausages such as sobrassada, cheeses, pork snout, as well as jams. The food and products of this village certainly make a visit to Guadalest a complete experience.
How to organise what to see in Guadalest?
If you don’t know how to organise your trip to Guadalest, download the Passporter app and we will help you.
- First, get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Then, create your own itinerary and add the suggestions of the app.
- Later, add the stops you are most interested in. As well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat.
- Also, you can organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map.
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary changes and you’re all set for your trip.
- Finally, Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited on your trip to the app to inspire other users.
Frequently Asked Questions
History tells us that this small town already existed during the Muslim domination, “guada” is a well known Arabic word meaning river, so Guadalest could be translated as “river or water from the East”.
The bathing areas are much easier to access on the left bank. One of the best known and most recommended places to swim is at the tail of the reservoir, very close to Beniardà.
There are 44.74 km between Alicante and Guadalest and 64 km by road. To drive from Alicante to Guadalest by car would take 51 minutes. If you plan to go from Alicante to Guadalest, this is the best route by road.
– Benimantell
– Callosa d’en Sarrià
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