Simat de la Valldigna: Find monasteries, hiking trails and hotels

Simat de la Valldigna can be explored in several ways: through the history of the Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de la Valldigna, through other religious buildings, and through hiking trails in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, first consider which of these interests you want to shape your stay. This way, you can plan your days around the things that interest you most while you are there.

Monastery history and architecture

The Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de la Valldigna was founded in 1298 by King Jaume II El Just and remained inhabited until 1835. Its architectural history spans several periods: Gothic elements from the 14th century sit alongside Baroque parts of the buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. These different architectural periods give the monastery a distinctive historical depth and make it a central cultural attraction during a stay in Simat.

A guided tour with commentary is available at the monastery. It covers the daily life of the monastic community as well as the historical and artistic value of the complex. Check the visitor program for your date before travelling. Els Tresors de Simat can be explored independently with an audio guide from the Tourist Info, or accompanied by a local guide. Ask the Tourist Info about the availability of the audio guide.

Religious buildings from different periods

The Antiga Mesquita de la Xara also tells the story of changes in religious architecture: built around the 15th century, it was later converted into a church in honour of Saint Anne. It is considered one of the most significant mosques in the Comunitat Valenciana and a testament to the Muslim religion in the former Kingdom of Valencia. The Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel in the centre of Simat de la Valldigna represents a different period. The Baroque church dates from the 17th century and was built over an earlier mosque. Taken together, these buildings offer different ways to explore the town’s history, while their origins should not be conflated.

Hiking trails by length and character

The published route details provide a practical basis for comparing hiking options. The Camí dels Burros (PR-CV 51) starts at Font Gran in Simat and leads to the summit of Penyalba. The listed distance is 7.9 kilometres, the duration is three hours and 30 minutes, and the difficulty is moderate. The PR-CV 50, the Senda del Toro, is an 11.80-kilometre circular route. It follows traditional paths through the Sierra del Toro to its main summits and offers views across much of the Valldigna Valley. Before setting out, it is a good idea to check trail conditions and signage.

Another option is the hiking branch of the Ruta dels Monestirs: the GR-236. This trail is more than 90 kilometres long, follows historic paths and starts at Gandia railway station; its endpoint is Alzira railway station. This is distinct from the Ruta dels Monestirs as a tourist itinerary. It links the monastery of Santa María la Valldigna in Simat with La Murta in Alzira, Aigües Vives in Carcaixent, Sant Jeroni de Cotalba in Alfauir and Corpus Christi in Llutxent. The names make clear that this themed itinerary extends beyond Simat.

Font del Cirer and the Ruta de l’Aigua

Font del Cirer is set up as a recreational area with tables, information boards and a viewpoint overlooking the Valldigna Valley. Facilities may change; check the situation before your visit. In 2024, an information board with general details about the route and nine interpretive panels at key points were installed for the Ruta de l’Aigua: Fontarda, Llavador, Gorg de l’ast, Brolls, Arcades del Cirer, Font del Cirer, Font de l’Escudella, Molí Company and the partidors de les séquies. These hiking routes can therefore also be combined with stops related to water and the landscape.

Regional cuisine as another focus

Traditional coques are among the Valldigna’s most distinctive culinary traditions. The varieties mentioned include coca de mestall, coca de dacsa and coca de puntilla. They are a regional highlight for travellers who want to discover the Valldigna’s culinary traditions as well as its architecture and hiking. When choosing a hotel, you can consider whether you want to devote your time mainly to historic buildings, hiking routes or several of these interests.

Discover more destinations: La Pobla De Farnals, Fontanars Dels Alforins, Palma de Gandía, Mogente, Rocafort, Sinarcas, L'eliana, Novelé.

For the broader travel overview: Valencia.