Day Out El Valle Regional Park
The Regional Park of El Valle and Carrascoy is located about 6 kilometres to the east of the city of Murcia and is nicked named the ‘green lung’ of Murcia. It covers an area of 11,000 hectares and its mountains range from 200 to 1,000 metres in height. It has been a protected area since 1917 and was declared a regional park in 1992.
There is an abundance of fauna and flora. Such animals as the natterjack toad, montpellier snake, striped necked terrapin, red squirrels, wild boar, sparrow hawks and golden eagles inhabit the park. There are more than 600 species of plants; these include the aleppo pine, evergreen oak, rosemary, thyme, esparto grass and oleanders among others.
The mountains of this area have been inhabited by hermits since the 5thcentury and the park has many religious buildings to visit like the impressive La Fuensanta Sanctuary. There are two free visitor centres, one called the Centro de la Luz and the other the Centro Naturaleza El Valle as well as a fascinating Arboretum. There is an abundance of signposted walking and cycling routes, a road to the top of El Relojeroat 609 metres and even a children’s play area with BBQ facilities and plenty of picnic tables positioned throughout the park.
Places to stop during a day out in El Valle Regional Park
- La Fuensanta Sanctuary: impressive church, great views and small cafe.
- Centro de la Luz Visitors Centre: exhibitions about the area including its history, viewing balconies and cafe.
- Centro de la Naturaleza Visitors Centre: interactive exhibitions about the importance of the natural environment of the park.
- Arboretum: paved paths with information boards about the different varieties of trees.
- Antonio el Pobre Hermitage: one room hermitage with 10 minute video about the life of hermits in English.
- Children’s Playground, BBQ & Picnic Areas: swings, slides, stone BBQs and picnic tables.
- Walking & Cycling Routes: many marked trails.
- Murcia City Centre: end your day with a stop in the heart of Mucia and enjoy a well deserved cerveza or vino in the main plaza right in front of the impressive Cathedral.
Places of Interest
1 La Fuensanta Sanctuary
N37°56.265 W1°07.056Parking: is in the car park and is free.
From here: explore the La Fuensanta Sanctuary, there is a little souvenir shop opposite the entrance to the church, a café past the church and to the right and toilet facilities near to the exit of the car park.
Places of interest and things to do at La Fuensanta Sanctuary
- Sanctuary: it is free to go inside the church and it is usually open everyday from 09.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00. In order to light up the really impressive dome you’ll need to put a 1€ coin into the slot machine to the right of the door in the church foyer - it is well worth it!! Visit at sunset for some spectacular views!
- Cafe: great place for a coffee with stunning views out over the city of Murcia.
- Souvenir Shop: run by the monks it is opposite the entrance to the church.
2 Centro de la Luz Visitors Centre
N37°55.974 W1°07.590Parking: is in the car park beside the visitor centre and is free.
From here: walk into the visitors centre. The entrance to the exhibitions is beside the information desk to your left. The stairs are to your right. On the first floor is the café and some display cases with information about the silk industry. On the second floor is a mountaineering exhibition and a 360 degree viewing balcony.
Places of interest and things to do at Centro de la Luz Visitors Centre
- Centro de la Luz: there is an information desk right beside the entrance, turn left here to enter the exhibition. It is free and is open everyday from 10.00-19.00 except 25th December, 1st January and for the fiesta Romeria in September and the Bando de la Huerta in April.
- Cafe: this is on the first floor, use the stairs or lifts to the right of the information desk.
- Mountaineering Exhibition: this is on the 2nd floor, it has a scale model of the El Valle Park.
- Viewing Balcony: on the 2nd floor this wonderful terrace allows you to walk all the way around the centre and offers some stunning views.
3 Centro de la Naturaleza Visitors Centre
N37°55.701 W1°08.419Parking: is in the car park opposite the centre and is free.
From here: walk across the road and enter the visitor centre, there are several rooms of interactive exhibitions about the fauna and flora of this important natural space.
Places of interest and things to do at Centro de la Naturaleza Visitors Centre
- Centro de la Naturaleza: there are several rooms of interactive exhibitions about the fauna and flora of this important natural space. It is free to visit and is open Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-18.00.
4 Arboretum
N37°55.701 W1°08.419Parking: is in the car park for the Centro de la Naturaleza and is free.
From here: walk up hill, the entrance to the Arboretum is to your left, walk along the paved paths and discover all there is to know about the trees which grow in this regional park.
Places of interest and things to do at the Arboretum
- Arboretum: it is free to visit, walk along the paved paths and discover all there is to know about the trees which grow in this regional park.
5 San Antonio el Pobre Hermitage
N37°55.922 W1°07.936Parking: is beside the entrance gates and is free, take care not to use the private parking spaces to the left.
From here: walk through the gates and enter the little hermitage for a 10 minute video in English about the life of hermits in these mountains, they will put it on especially for you!! Don't forget to explore the little waterfall behind the hermitage.
Places of interest and things to do at San Antonio el Pobre Hermitage
- Hermitage: for a 10 minute video in English about the life of hermits in these mountains, they will put it on especially for you!! It is free to visit the Hermitage and it is open Tuesday-Sunday, March 2nd–November 15th 10.00-14.00 & 16.00-19.00, November 16th–March 1st10.00-17.00.
- Walking Route: you can walk between the Centro de la Luz and here, it takes about 20 mins each way. Ask at the information desk in the Luz for details of the route and make sure that it is during the opening times of the Hermitage, otherwise the gate at the end of the walk will be locked!!
6 Children’s Playground, BBQ & Picnic Areas
N37°55.636 W1°08.260Parking: is on the road beside the picnic tables or in the car park close to the BBQs.
From here: the children’s playground, picnic tables and BBQ are all around here, there is also a small café and some toilets.
Places of interest and things to do at the Chrildren's Playground, BBQ & Picnic Areas
- Children's Playground: climbing frames, swings and slides, a great place for the children to use up some energy!
- BBQ: only permitted during winter, you need to bring everything including charcoal.
- Picnic Area: use any of the tables and benches provided and enjoy your picnic!
- Cafe & Toilets: there is a small cafe for drinks and some toilets.
7 Walking & Cycling Routes
N37°55.974 W1°07.590Parking: is at any of the other points of interest, or wherever you see a parking area on the side of the mountain roads.
From here: follow the marked trails through the regional park.
Places of interest and things to do Walking & Cycling Routes
- Maps: these are available for a fee from the information desk in the Centro de la Luz.
8 Murcia City Centre Car Park
N37°58.953 W1°07.755Parking: is in the underground car park beside the river and is charged for by length of stay.
From here: exit the underground car park and walk away from the river along the narrow pedestrianised street between the impressive town hall and the Episcopal Palace, to enter the cathedral square.
Places of interest and things to do Murcia City Centre
- Catherdral: visit the impressive cathedral which took over 400 years to build!
- Murcia City Walking Route: to get to know the city you can follow our Murcia city walking route.
