Sax: Castle, Old Town and Nature Trails

First, consider whether you mainly want to explore architectural history, choose a route or visit for a particular occasion. The places and activities below offer specific ideas to help you decide.

Castle, Elevated Setting and Views

Castillo de Sax rises on a limestone ridge on the right-hand side of the Vinalopó River, 500 metres above sea level. The castle includes a single-storey Almohad tower dating from the 12th century. The castle thus combines a striking location with a clearly identifiable historic feature. Ayuntamiento de Sax organises guided and self-guided visits. Check the booking details before your trip.

The landscape around the castle ridge is also an attraction in its own right: Paraje Natural Municipal Ladera del Castillo de Sax offers views across the Vinalopó Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. It was designated a protected natural area of the Comunitat Valenciana by a resolution of the Consell dated 11 April 2008. The views and protected status describe two different aspects of this place: its outlook over the landscape and its formal designation.

Trails and Walks

In the El Plano recreation area, a short path leads up a small hill to a viewpoint with sweeping panoramic views. The PRV-144 hiking trail also starts there and is signposted as far as l’Avaiol. The short PRV-25 Elda–Salinas–Elda hiking trail, by contrast, runs partly through the Sax area. These trails differ in their stated destinations and routes; check current trail conditions before setting out.

Another way to explore Sax on foot is the Ruta de los Sentidos Infantil: a self-guided walk through Sax with interactive educational panels. Each panel has two QR codes; digital materials may be updated. This walk offers a different approach from a hiking route, as it focuses on the information on the panels and the QR codes.

Old Town and Architectural History

The historic centre of Sax has Arab origins. Its streets cling to the rock and follow the contours of the terrain. This layout shapes how you find your way around the old town and can be combined with a visit to Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, built in the 1530s. The town’s history thus brings together different periods, although the individual buildings do not all date from the same era.

The region’s architectural history also includes Colonia Santa Eulalia, an agricultural colony built in the last decade of the 19th century. Centro de Estudios y Archivo Municipal Alberto Sols offers a different focus: it opened in September 2007 in the scientist Alberto Sols’s birthplace. The centre hosts gatherings, conferences, exhibitions and concerts; its programme may vary. Teatro Cervantes adds another cultural point of interest, with a history of its own: it opened in 1888.

Festivals, Food and Getting There

If you would like to plan your trip around a recurring date, two traditions have particularly specific dates. From 1 to 5 February, Sax celebrates the traditional Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos in honour of San Blas. Check the current festival calendar before your trip. Every year on 1 May, the local community makes a pilgrimage to Paraje de la Torre, where Ermita de San Pancracio is located; check the latest arrangements in advance.

Sax has restaurants where you can sample traditional dishes. From Alicante, you can reach Sax via the A-31 motorway in less than half an hour; actual journey times depend on traffic. This gives you both a specific route for getting there and local cultural and food options to consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Puerto Marino, La Xara, Ontilles, Ondara, El Ràfol d'Almúnia, Aigües, Canyades d'en Cirus, El Fondó De Les Neus.

See the broader travel overview: Alicante.