A visit to the Coves de Sant Josep takes you to a navigable underground river; historic trails reveal other sides of La Vall d’Uixó. The town also has archaeological remains and patron saint festivals with set dates throughout the year. If you’re looking for accommodation, you can start by considering which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay.
Underground river and two ways to visit
The Coves de Sant Josep are a karst cave formed naturally over thousands of years, with a navigable underground river. A regular visit includes 250 metres on foot through a dry gallery and a further 800 metres by hand-operated boat. This visit therefore includes both a walking and a boating section. Check the operational details before travelling.
Another option is Espeleokayak, a visit that lasts approximately two hours. This time estimate applies to this activity; it does not describe the regular visit with its walking and boating sections. When planning, you can choose between two different ways to experience the cave without confusing their respective durations.
Trails linking local history and landscape
The Camino del Agua begins at the Aigualit aqueduct complex and is 1.5 kilometres long. Check the arrangements for guided visits before travelling. It follows a former Roman irrigation channel, a water system supplied by water from the underground river of the Coves de Sant Josep. Along the way, the route passes the Church of Santo Ángel, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the Palacio de Vivel manor house. The buildings are viewed from the outside. To finish, the trail climbs to the 49-metre-high bell tower of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.
If you’d rather focus on a climb than a route through town, the PR-V-241 hiking trail offers another option: it begins at Paraje de Sant Josep, where the Coves de Sant Josep are located, and climbs to the summit of Pipa. Pipa is the town’s most prominent mountain. The PR-V-164 passes Muslim towers, local springs and structures from earlier agricultural use. Check trail conditions in advance before hiking.
There is also a specific route description for a bike ride: the Ruta a Alfondeguilla circular route begins at Paraje de Sant Josep, goes to Pont de l’Aigua and is 28.64 kilometres long. A marked five-kilometre hiking section also begins at Paraje de Sant Josep. It passes Fortín de la Creueta, trenches, machine-gun nests and shelters. These are separate route options with different lengths and modes of transport.
Archaeology and architectural heritage
The preserved section of the Línea XYZ forms part of a defensive line built by the Republican Army in 1938. It stretched from Almenara to Cuenca. The Iberian-Roman settlement site of Sant Josep contains Roman settlement remains from the 4th and 5th centuries AD. These include remains of an ancient wall, several towers, houses, stairs and other structures.
The Fàbrica de la llum archaeological town museum combines archaeological finds with interactive reconstructions. These include an immersive reconstruction of an Iberian house that is more than two millennia old. The exhibition may change. The parish church Iglesia Parroquial del Santo Ángel Custodio also features architectural details: it has a central nave and two side aisles, with frescoes adorning its domes and presbytery.
Festivals and local cuisine
The Fiestas Patronales San Vicente Ferrer take place every year in April and are celebrated by the people of La Vall d’Uixó. Les Penyes en Festes takes place every year in July and August. The patron saint celebrations of the Sagrada Família and Santíssim Crist are recognised as events of national tourist interest. If you’d like to travel for a particular festival, you can take its dates into account when planning.
Empedrao is part of the local festive cuisine: a traditional stew made with pork, rice, crushed beans and game meat, particularly rabbit or hare. It is considered a must at every festive meal. Typical sweets of Muslim origin include hollow ring-shaped pastries coated in sugar. These dishes add a culinary perspective on local tradition to the area’s historical and landscape attractions.
Getting around and how to get there
Regular bus services connect La Vall d’Uixó with Castellón de la Plana, Playa de Xilxes, Playa de Moncofa and Valencia. Routes and timetables may change; check them before travelling. La Vall d’Uixó has no railway station. Nearby stations are in Nules, Xilxes and Moncofa.
The Tourist Info La Vall d’Uixó is located at the car park of Paraje de Sant Josep, 300 metres from the Coves de Sant Josep. As the location of a visitor service may change, it is advisable to check before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Eslida, Castellnovo, Casablanca, Fredes, Anroig, Alcalà De Xivert, Ares Del Maestre, Vilafamés
For the broader travel overview: Castellon.
