Segorbe is a fairly small town situated around 70km to the north-west of Valencia in between two mountain ranges - the Sierra de Espadan to the north and the Sierra Calderona to the south.
It is one of the most historically important places in the Valencia region.
Segorbe is believed to have first been inhabited in the Palaeolithic Age, and became an important town during the Visigoth rule of Spain. In the hundreds of years following its
rise to prominence, Segorbe has seen many different cultures influence the wide variety of architecture and atmosphere that exist in the town today.
Main Sights of Segorbe
Although Segorbe only has a population of less than 10,000; however, it has a compact old centre of historical interest. The castle is only ruins but offers good views of the city and the surrounding mountains. The cathedral and the city walls, by contrast, remain in good condition and, set upon a hill side, they make for an interesting walk.
Segorbe is also well known in Spain for its bull running week in September, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This is one of several examples of the traditional character of Segorbe, values which have been lost in many similar sized Spanish towns.
Cycling Around Segorbe
As importantly for those of us who like to spin the pedals, Segorbe is also at the heart of a fine region for cycling. The longest Via Verde in Spain - Ojos Negros (Black Eyes) passes a couple of kilometres to the south of the city. You may be relieved to know that the name comes from the numerous old railway tunnels that line this cycle route, rather than because it is especially dangerous! This Via Verde runs from Teruel to Algimia de Alfara, and is particularly popular with cyclists who are travelling from the north to the south of Spain.
The Sierra Calderona Natural Park has three excellent routes for cycling. Although it is a mountain range, the climbs are at an average gradient of less than 5% and so are a decent option for all levels of ability. The scenery here is mostly pine, olives and oranges - and you will certainly notice the competing smells if you cycle around here.
To the north, the Sierra de Espadan Natural Park offers some slightly more challenging routes; although the highest climb is still less than 1000m. There are several sections at 10% gradient - enough to challenge most cyclists - with the toughest sections starting near to the village of Ain in the heart of the mountains.
If you are on a cycling tour down the coast, Segorbe and its surroundings can make for a nice change to the generally flat roads that run parallel to the sea. If you are heading towards Segorbe from inland, the Natural Parks also provide a pleasant contrast to the barren plains and arable farmland of Aragon and La Mancha.
We also visit Segorbe on our self guided and guided tours through the Valencia region. You can find details below with links to the full itinerary, and we would be delighted to show you more of what Segorbe and its surroundings have to offer.
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