THIS TRIP IS CURRENTLY FULLY BOOKED BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE RESERVE LIST IN CASE OF CANCELLATIONS, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO THE GROUP LEADER, ANGELA CHANTRY, VIA THE EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

Friday 7^th – Sunday 9^th November 2025

Culla has been described as one of “the most beautiful villages in Spain”, an historic village that is full of charm and named a Site of Cultural Interest. The picturesque streets transport the visitor back in time, with most of the sights connected to the legacy of the Knights Templar.  The village was founded by the Moors and, after the Conquest, was taken by the Templars who gave the utmost importance to the castle. Now in ruins, the remains can be visited alongside the Torre del Frare Pere.

DAY 1 FRIDAY 7^TH NOVEMBER: Jávea / Benlloch (226 km) / La Torre d’En Besora (31 km) / Benassal (22 km)

08.30 hrs: Departure from Golden Star Apartments, Calle Bruselas, Jávea Arenal.

08.45 hrs: Departure from Interiors (opposite side of the road), Jávea Port.

09.00hrs: Pick up at Mas y Mas, N332, if required. Refreshment break en route to Benlloch.

12.00 hrs:  Visit to the Agut Turrones factory in Benlloc:

• Brief explanation of the company’s history and a video showing the artisanal production of nougat.
• Visit the factory where you can observe how the product is made.
• Tasting of the products.
• 10% discount on purchases made in the store during the visit.

13.45 hrs: Free time for refreshments; there are 2 restaurants within a few minutes’ walk.

15.00 hrs: Reboard our minibus and travel to La Torre d’En Besora.

16.00 hrs: Visit to Masia els Masets which specialises in rearing sheep, specifically the Lacaune breed whose milk is perfect for making dairy products full of flavour and nutrients. We will visit the factory and then go to see the animals and the small shop.

17.30 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Benassal.

18.00 hrs: Check in to the 3* Hotel De Montaña Novella; 2 nights half-board (dinner & breakfast). The hotel has 13 twin/double rooms with tv, Wi-Fi, and ensuite bathrooms with bathtubs and toiletries. There is a bar, an outdoor terrace, and a restaurant which serves traditional local dishes. The hotel has a high rating from Booking.com “9.1 Exceptional”.

20.00 hrs: Dinner for the group.

DAY 2 SATURDAY 8^TH NOVEMBER: Benassal / Culla (7 km)

Breakfast.

Perhaps have an early morning stroll to see Font d’En Segures (500 metres from the hotel).  Popularly known as red fox square and fountain, it’s a stone block structure culminating in an impressive triangular dome. Built at the end of the civil war, it’s the location of the spring from where the famous Benassal water flows.

09.45 hrs: Departure by minibus for Culla.

10.00 hrs: Walking tour: The Route of the Templars.

The historic centre has undergone extensive restoration work, and The Templar Route takes visitors on a journey through its streets and monuments, transporting them to another era: the ruins of the castle of Muslim origin (11th–14th centuries); the 13th-century Commander’s granary, which served as a prison and still preserves its original chains and prisoner drawings on the walls; the 17th-century old hospital, which housed the charitable foundation of Domingo Serrana and now displays historical school materials and a rural classroom from the early 20th century; the Parish Church, built in the 17th century over an earlier Gothic church, and many other legendary places that showcase the medieval side of Culla.

12.00 hrs: Free time for refreshments.

13.30 hrs: Board our minibus and travel to a nearby farm.

14.00 hrs: Meet Daniel, a resident of Culla, farmer, and rancher, who will tell us about:

a plantation of holm oaks

how a trained dog detects truffles

learn what truffles are

how and when they are produced and harvested

discover their uses in cooking in a simple way

16.00 hrs: Reboard our minibus and travel to Benassal.

16.30 hrs: Free time for refreshments and to explore this pretty village, known for its rural charm, its rich history and its mineral-medicinal waters. The old town of Benassal is a labyrinth of cobbled streets and stone houses, which retain their medieval structure. In the highest part of the old town sits the complex called La Mola from the thirteenth century, with a portal and part of the old castle. Today, the building houses the Tourist Office, the Archaeological Museum of Alt Maestrat and the Carles Salvador Foundation.

18.00 hrs: Rejoin our minibus for the short drive to the hotel.

20.00 hrs: Dinner for the group.

DAY 3 SUNDAY 9^TH NOVEMBER: Benassal / Mas de la Mezquita (22 km) / La Barona (27 km) / Jávea (222 km)

Breakfast.

09.45 hrs: Check out and travel to Mas de la Mezquita.

10.30 hrs. Visit to Mas de la Mezquita.

Built in 1700 and preserved in its original state, we will be transported back in time as you explore the stone buildings and discover what life was like back then.  For the visit to the house, everyone will be divided into 3 groups. The rest of the areas included in the tour can be visited together. To complete the experience, there will be a tasting of local products and, I have been told, “what is considered to be the best water in the world”!

Please note that the minibus cannot take us directly to the site and there will be a 15-minute walk along a paved road and country path – please wear flat, comfortable shoes.

The “Art of dry stone walling” was inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018, as a joint initiative by Spain and seven other European countries. This inscription recognizes the knowledge and techniques of building stone structures without mortar, which is present in numerous rural areas of Spain. 

12.45 hrs: Reboard our minibus for our return journey to Jávea.

Lunch will be included enroute (restaurant tbc).

18.30 hrs: Approximate time of arrival in Jávea.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Transport by minibus (Denibus)

Visit to Agut Turrones factory in Benlloc

Visit to Masia els Masets

2 nights dinner & breakfast accommodation at the 3* Hotel de Montaña Novella

Guided walk: the Route of the Templars

Guided farm visit: Truffle Experience

Visit to Mas de la Mezquita with tasting of local products

Lunch on the return journey to Jávea.

€2 per person contribution towards the Jávea U3A travel fund

Gratuities

Please note that this tour is not suitable for anyone with a walking difficulty as there are likely to be narrow streets with cobblestones and some inclines.

COST: €335 per person sharing a twin/double room

Please read the “Terms and Conditions of a U3A Jávea Travel Trip”, which are published on the website, as any request to book a trip will mean that you have accepted and agreed to them. As stated in the terms and conditions, you are responsible for obtaining travel insurance appropriate to your own personal needs. Should you subsequently cancel your booking, refunds can only be made once your reservation has been taken over by another member.

If you would like to be included in the reserve list in case of cancellations, please send an email to the group leader, Angela Chantry:

spanish.culture.cuisine@u3ajavea.com