Sierra Calderona Natural Park

The Sierra Calderona Natural Park covers 18,019 hectares of Mediterranean habitat rich in ravines and pine and cork oak forests, charms that make it one of the favorite places for hiking and summer vacations.  Located just over 30 kilometers north of the capital, the best way to get there is by car. However, if that is not an option for you, you can take the metro to Bétera and then a bus to Serra. 

Now that you have your bearings, let’s introduce the essentials of the Sierra Calderona Natural Park so you can start planning your visit. 

• Porta Coeli Charterhouse 
• Valldecrist Charterhouse 
• Monastery of Santo Espíritu del Monte 
• Serra Castle 
• The Dragon of La Calderona 
• Hiking trails 

Sierra de Calderona: excursions that are half nature, half culture

There are quite a few excursions near Valencia because we are lucky enough to have the sea and mountains just a stone's throw away. and within the Sierra Calderona, there are many more. Let's take a look at some of the most interesting ones. 

Porta Coeli Charterhouse: a 13th-century monastery in Serra  

You heard it right: the Porta Coeli Charterhouse is a monastery in the center of the Lullén valley, in Serra. Besides being an imposing building with a mix of styles ranging from Gothic to Neoclassical in the middle of a spectacular natural setting, the complex includes a 15th-century aqueduct. It is no wonder that it is one of the star visits of the Valencia mountains. 

Valldecrist Charterhouse: a monastic enclosure at the foot of the Sierra Calderona 

We go from one charterhouse to another because the Sierra Calderona Natural Park is an ideal location for the seclusion that a monastery requires. The Valldecrist Charterhouse is in the municipality of Altura, in the center of the triangle formed by Valencia, Castellón, and Teruel; it has such historical importance that it is best to arrange a guided tour where they explain the different parts of the architectural complex, which is in a particularly good moment thanks to the investment in its recovery in recent years. 

Monastery of Santo Espíritu del Monte: spirituality and nature

Another of the wonders housed in the Valencia mountains is the Santo Espíritu del Monte Monastery, located in Gilet. Best of all, it has a guesthouse open to the public. So, if you want a true immersion in the nature and spirit of the Sierra Calderona Natural Park, you can stay there. Its church, its Franciscan library, and the guesthouse rooms form a complex that truly shines in a mountain environment like this.  

Serra Castle: a historical lookout

And speaking of special locations in the Valencia mountains, Serra Castle is a spot you must visit to enjoy the views of the Sierra Calderona Natural Park from up there.  Being at 536 meters above sea level, it overlooks the Turia valley and you can see as far as the coast. It’s not hard to imagine why this 600-square-meter fortress was built up there, of which the main tower, fragments of the second tower, part of the battlemented wall, and the cistern are still preserved. 

Other wonders of the Sierra Calderona Natural Park: The Dragon of La Calderona

Apart from the excursions we have mentioned, in the Sierra Calderona Natural Park there are many others of interest, such as a research center with a very peculiar shape: it is the Dragon of La Calderona, in Gilet. Although, without a doubt, the most valuable monuments in the mountains belong to nature. Here are the top hiking trails in the Sierra Calderona Natural Park. 

Sierra Calderona: hiking trails for all audiences

To explore the park on foot or by bike, it’s best to stop by the park’s Interpretation and Visitor Center for information. You will find it in Náquera, at calle Lepanto, 8, and it is open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. 

Although there are more, these are the most popular hiking trails, with their degree of difficulty, length, and estimated time, so you can organize your trip: 

• The Garbí chains route: medium difficulty, 2:40 h, 7.25 km. 
• Puntal dels Llops: medium difficulty, 1:45 h, 6 km. 
• Rebalsadors Viewpoint: high difficulty, 6 h, 19 km. 
• Rebalsadors Summit - Cave: medium difficulty, 3:30 h, 10 km. 
• Serra Castle: medium difficulty, 2 h, 7.5 km. 
• Rebalsadors Summit - El Sierro peak: high difficulty, 5:30 h, 16 km. 
• Muntanya Redona - El Xocainet: medium difficulty, 4 h, 11 km. 
• Real Castle - Font del Frare: medium difficulty, 2 h, 7 km. 

This is a varied selection of points of interest and hiking trails in the Sierra Calderona Natural Park, but there are many more.  

Do some research and create the history and nature plan that best suits you and your loved ones.