Guadalest town, Guadalest Castles & Guadalest Bell Tower, Costa Blanca, Spain
This picturesque fortified town located on a massive rock is the most visited town in Spain,book your excursion to Guadalest
Panoramic view of Guadalest Old Fortified Town and lake Guadalest taken from San Jose Castle
Guadalest Church is the building on the right
Guadalest Introduction and Entrance to the fortified town and castle
Guadalest is the most visited town in Spain with more than 2 million visitors a year. When you visit Guadalest you will soon realise the reason why. It is extremely picturesque located on a shear sided mountain overlooking and providing magnificent views of the river, the dam which forms a lake, the valley of Guadalest and more craggy mountains.
The picturesque Guadalest bell tower perched on a rock pinnacle is now the icon for the Alicante province of Spain and the Costa Blanca.
The town has been built in 3 major stages
Way in to the Fortified town of Guadalest
Interactive 3600 Photograph of Path to the Tunnel
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Interactive 3600 Photograph of Entrance to the Fortified Village
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The Fortified town of Guadalest
Guadalest Entrance Tunnel
- The fortified town of Guadalest is the main attraction of Guadalest & was built by the Moors
- Access to the fortified town and castle is gained through a tunnel named the "Portal de San Jose", which is a 15 metres long tunnel carved through the mountain side solid rock. This is the only way into the fortified town
- The entrance to the old fortified town of Guadalest is located through a tunnel part cleft in the rock and part carved through the mountain side that leads to the far side of the mountain and not visible from the main road. Above the tunnel filling the cleft in the rock is a white house
- The walled town is built on a high flat plateaux that run along the long narrow mountain side, approximately half way up. The castle built before the town runs along the higher ridge. Both the castle and the town were built by the Moors
- When the limited space in the fortified town was full, the Moors built additional houses between the mountain base and the modern main road, I refer to this as the Moors town..
- Most of the portion of the town on the other side of the main road is fairly modern being built to support the tourist industry
Both the "Moor portion and the fortified sections of the town" are interesting to view, but the fortified section is the place to head for. Most of the residents have now moved out to local newer towns and have turned there old houses into restaurants, bars, tourist shops, museums and similar ventures to benefit from the tourist boom. Some of the shops have very interesting knickknacks, and craft made items besides the usual tourist goodies. Ideal as a personnel souvenir or as a gift for a relative or friend.
Guadalest from the South a short distance
This photograph helps visualise the dramatic scenery in the Guadalest region. Just look at those fabulous rock formations.
Guadalest overflow Moors Quarter foreground & Guadalest Modern Town
The Guadalest Moors Quarter was built as an overflow sector when the fortified village built on a small plateau near the top of the rock on the hidden far side became fully occupied. .
The Modern town is towards the top of the photo beyond the main road and car park
Guadalest Moorish Extention
The Guadalest Moorish New Town in the middle of the photograph. The ramparts of the castle are on the ridge of the mountain, to both sides of the white Guadalest Bell Tower. The entrance to the fortified town is at the foot of the crack to the left of the Bell Tower
Road near Tunnel to Guadalest fortified town
Guadalest gardens
Approaching Guadalest
The Famous Bell Tower of Guadalest
The Famous Bell Tower of Guadalest is located on top of a rock pinnacle and is the iconic logo for the Costa Blanca and the province of Alicante
Guadalest Bell Tower on a slim rock pinnacle
Guadalest Bell Tower and Alcozaiba Castle in the background
Entrance to Guadalest below & to left of Bell Tower
On top of a round rock pinnacle, Penon de la Alcala, is a round watch tower, of which only the lower portion remains. Access to the tower is extremely difficult. making it a good defensive position for the castle.
Town Hall, Town Square and Dungeon
Guadalest Town Square, with Town Hall behind the statue and light feature.
The man under the tree is sat on top of the rear wall of the fortified town. There are fabulous views looking over the reservoir in the valley below, and the backdrop of hills on the far side of the valley. The rear wall is really a facing of stone over the solid rock face.
The Town Hall was formerly the towns prison and visitors can see one of the dungeons located underneath the Town Hall
Guadalest rear town wall and square
Guadalest Cemetary Church
Guadalest Cemetary
This style of Cemetary is far more prominent in Spain, than burial in the ground.
The cascet ot urn is sealed into the Nicho with cement. It is normal for the Nicho to be rented for a set number of years. If the Nicho rent is not renewed, the remains are removed and usually moved to a communal burial ground.
The facade of the nicho is usually black marble and the name engraved, with a possible photograph or sculpture. Flowers are often replaced by relatives.
Guadalest Square
Guadalest dungeon
Guadalest Street and Restaurant
Orduna House Museum (Casa Orduña) - Entrance to St Joseph Castle (San Jose), Guadalest
- Casa Orduña was constructed after the great earthquake of 1644 is a 6th-century
- The Orduña family were in the service of the Marquis as governors of the fortress and of his estate
- Access to the castle ramparts is gained through the Orduna House Museum the first house in the fortified town of Guadalest. A small fee is payable to view the house and the castle.
- The castle was built by the Moors in the 7th century on the highest part of the massive rock outcrop. Because of its location it was virtually impregnable and it's ruinous state was caused mainly by earthquakes and by gunpowder during an attack in the the War of Succession 1709.
- It was during the War of Succession that Britain captured Gibraltar. Spain formally ceded it to Britain under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
- From the rear of Orduna House Museum (see photos below) runs a set of modern stairs through the shrubbery gardens to the castle on the crest of the ridge.
- The views from the top are stunning and coin operated binoculars are available to use.
- The way out from the castle is via route that takes you to the far end of the fortified town near the town hall.
- The final exit from the grounds controlled by a one way turnstile.
San Jose Castle (Castillo de San José)
Guadalest Stairs to the Castle from Orduna House
San Jose Castle on the rock's peak
Guadalest Castle taken from the main lane that leads toward the massive rock peak and he castle on it's highets point.
Views from San Jose Castle
San Jose Castle (Castillo de San José) is the main 11th-century Muslim fortress located at the highest point of the town. Although it was heavily damaged by earthquakes in 1644 and 1748, the remaining structure, including the keep (torreón), is a major tourist attraction providing panoramic views of the turquoise Guadalest reservoir. It is accessible through the Casa Orduña museum.
Alcozaiba Castle Guadalest
Alcozaiba Castle is a seperate castle from San José, Castle. It is located at the opposite end of the rocky peak. It was also built in the 11th century by the Moors, but very little of it remains today. It is located close to the iconic white bell tower that balances on the cliff edge. Ths area can not be visted but can be viewed from the pathway through & behind Orduna House
The stunningly magnificent views from the San José castle are simply breathtaking and well worth the climb to the top.
View from San Jose Castle
View from Guadalest
View from the descent from the San Jose castle to the fortiefied town.
Coach Trip to Guadalest
Day trips to Guadalest are available from the following resorts
Coach Trip to Guadalest & Algar Waterfalls
Coach Trip to Guadalest & Altea
