Fuente de los Baños: a refreshing interior getaway
Although unknown to many, the authentic wealth of the Valencian Community is found within.
Its coastal areas, with names that echo in most of our summers, have made many of us not investigate further. Which is a real mistake.
Among many other examples, the town of Morella with its beautiful castle, that of Guadalest or the cave of San José, located in the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park.
But, if there is an essential, that is the Fuente de los Baños, located in the municipality of Montanejos.
The waters maintain a temperature of about 25ºC all year round
MONTANEJOS, A VILLAGE LINKED TO WATER
Montanejos is a town in the interior of the province of Castellón. Located between the mountains of the Alto Mijares region, It is a place of great beauty due to its connection with water, with the Mijares river as the protagonist.
In addition, this point is key since this is where the river recovers from a certain decline that suffers upstream of the course due to the Cirat dam.
The Fountain of the Baths is the name given to the space where all these characteristics are framed. Here the waters advance alive between mountains and leafy vegetation forming natural pools that evoke images that are more in keeping with exotic countries than our own. Some natural pools that encourage bathing from their beauty.
According to legend, Abu Zayd had these baths built
TO REFRESH!
To access the Fuente de los Baños, you must first walk a path that will take us from the town and along the riverbank to a picnic area and rest.
This walk, of about 20 minutes, allows you to appreciate a large part of the fauna that inhabits the area. We talk about carp, trout and barbel, but also kingfishers and mountain goats.
At the end of the road we must leave all our belongings and immerse ourselves in the Fuente de los Baños. Between high rocky walls, This natural pool is a sign that the earthly paradise exists.
With totally crystal clear water and a constant temperature of around 25ºC throughout the year, the rocks and vegetation that surround us will make our imagination take us to exotic places outside our borders.
In addition, it is a water that has hydrogeochemical and biological properties beneficial to health.
Who wants a dip?
CENTURIES-OLD BATHROOMS
Legend has it that these baths were built back in the 13th century, when the Iberian Peninsula was under Arab rule.
By then, the Almohad governor of Valencia, Abu Zayd, He ordered the creation of some baths of which only certain archaeological remains remain to this day.
The Fuente de los Baños used the thermal waters of the Mijares River so that the women of the Almohad governor would always remain young and beautiful, providing them with medicinal properties to prevent skin deterioration and cardiovascular diseases.
An idiosyncrasy that has remained to this day, since everything the municipality of Montanejos is full of hotels with spas inside.
On the way to the Fuente de los Baños
But beyond the visit to the Fuente de los Baños and the possibility of going to a spa, the town of Montanejos also offers an interesting, albeit short, tourist experience.
Within its historical heritage stands out the church dedicated to Santiago apostle, patron saint of the town, that can be glimpsed from any point due to its striking blue dome and tall bell tower.
The building was built in the 18th century and has a transept in the dome which is supported by four pendentives that represent the four evangelists writing.
also draws attention the Arab Tower, which is an Asset of Cultural Interest. It is located in the middle of the town, in front of the church, and is integrated inside the facade of the old palace of the Counts of Vallterra.
The Arab Tower, integrated into the façade of the old palace of the Counts of Vallterra
It is a circular floor plan with a cylindrical elevation that was built with stones of different sizes coming from the river.
The neighborhood of La Alquería is also worth a visit for the hermitage of the Virgen de los Desamparados. It is striking for its very pure white and the beauty of the bell tower tiles must be highlighted.
In addition, about 800 meters from the town is the Cova Negra (Black Cave). It is accessed through a large mouth and It contains in its interior a room that measures 2,300 square meters, which makes it one of the largest in the Valencian Community.
It is a cave of great geological interest formed by large blocks that, given their layout, come to form pseudo-galleries. These rock fragments are known as clasts and come from detachment processes.
Montanejos, Castellon
Note: Until this summer, the entrance to the Fuente de los Baños was completely free. But now, to control the capacity, you have to pay €3 per person (€1.5 if they are under 4 to 10 years old or over 65) and from Traveler we recommend buy it in advance here , since many times it is completed. We also point out that if you are going to stay in a hotel in the area, some establishments offer them for free.
El Alto Mijares, paradise of hot springs