 |
Castle of Guadalest
Little more than four kilometres away
from Callosa d’en Sarrià along the winding road following the valley of
the Guadalest, and just over 15 kilometres from Benidorm, or by the
alternative route from Benidorm along the road from Polop de la Marina
following the mountain slopes, stands the ancient fortress of Guadalest,
at the head of the valley, with its back to the reservoir named after
the river. It rises up in a privileged setting high on the crags which
tower over the valley, creating a medieval picture, really impressive
with its unique structure and the charm of its haughty silhouette. The
upright outline of the crags on wich the old castle stands can be made
out from far away, the white bell-tower crowning the sharp rocks.
As the visitor aprroaches and climbs the
narrow streets full of little shops and stalls offering a wide range of
typical products and handicrafts, he reaches the zig-zagging path up to
the hundred-year-old door, carved into the very rock, which leads to the
historic and impregnable fortress, from whose square there is a
wonderful view of the reservoir. A little further up, along the Via
Crucis, the visitor reaches the terrace on which the castle, nowadays a
cemetery, used to stand, to be rewarded with an exceptional panoramic
view of orchards and pine forests streching away down to the sea, a
landscape of breath-taking beauty. Reminders of the Middle Ages are kept
in a seculed fromer prison in the bassement of the Town Hall. In the
assembly room, the visitor can appreciate a picture of considerable
historic and artistic value.
Castell de Guadalest offers the visitor
the added charm of its varied museums where delicate miniatures,
artistic sculptures, everyday utensils or models of outstanding accuracy
can be seen.
To complement all this, the typical mountain cuisine, handed down from
generation to generation, is prepared with great pride in the various
restaurants, making the visit to Castell de Guadalest an unforgettable
experience which has inspired numerous travellers who have enjoyed this
outstanding scenery to write glowing reports.
|  |
