Castell de les Atzavares

TL;DR: Castell de les Atzavares is a ruined fortress above the Girona gorge between Pego and the Vall de Laguar, at just over 350 metres, final access via anchored chains and a hanging parade ground; no facilities or hours, amphitheatre views over the valley and for sure-footed hikers without vertigo only.

Why does almost nobody know this place?

Because it is not on the visitable-castles list and because the Vall de Laguar is visited for the 6,000 steps of the Barranco del Infierno, not fortresses. The castle has no access road and no opening hours; it is reached on foot only. It has its own Wikipedia entry, a page on the Comunitat Valenciana's official tourism portal and a waymarked trail (SL-CV 185) inaugurated in 2025, so its existence is far from secret, even if it draws far fewer visits than Biar castle or Villena castle, both with vehicle access and set hours. That lighter traffic keeps it free of heavy graffiti, but you still need to know it exists: from Pego it is not visible and from Dénia it hides behind Cavall Verd. Only those who climb with a track or follow the waymarked trail understand a hisn once watched the pass between coast and interior.

What Castell de les Atzavares actually is. It is a 12th-13th century Andalusi hisn later reused as a Christian frontier fortress, perched at just over 350 metres on a rocky spur dominating the Girona gorge between Pego and the Vall de Laguar. The enclosure, irregular to fit the spur, retains rammed-earth and masonry walls, a cistern, tower remains and a parade ground hanging over the void, consolidated but not tourist-rebuilt. Historic access was on foot from Benimaurell, Campell and Fleix, and today it is kept via a section fitted with steel chains anchored to rock to overcome an 8-metre step that would otherwise be a climb. It is not a castle with opening hours or tickets, there are no continuous railings or lighting, and its value is archaeological and landscape: from the spur the valley opens in an amphitheatre, with Montgó and, on clear days, the Dénia coast beyond.

What is the chain climb like?

The approach is a mountain path with loose stone; the final step is an 8-metre slab fitted with two steel chains chemically anchored to rock, installed by Vall de Laguar Town Hall. It is not a via ferrata, but without chains the scramble would be grade II unprotected. You ascend holding the chain, feet on carved ledges, no extra rungs. At the top, the castle is an open enclosure with 1-metre walls and a parade ground over a 120-metre drop: no continuous railing, wind hits hard and the fall is real. Not suitable for children, off-lead dogs or vertigo sufferers. The ensemble has been protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural with Monument status since 2000, which bars any intervention altering its consolidated ruin.

What do you see from the top?

The Vall de Laguar horseshoe with its three hanging villages (Benimaurell, Campell and Fleix), the entrenched Girona gorge and, beyond, the Montgó at Dénia and the coastal strip to Xàbia and Calp with Peñón de Ifach. To the east, the Pego-Oliva Marjal shines as a silver sheet; to the west, Bernia and Cavall Verd close the horizon. Morning light illuminates the valley head-on and late afternoon silhouettes the castle, ideal for photography. Bring binoculars: griffon vultures glide the cliff and in spring Bonelli's eagles from the Marjal Natural Park patrol.

How to get there without getting lost?

From Pego take the CV-715 toward the Vall de Laguar and continue to Campell, the trailhead for the local SL-CV 185 path (Sender del Castell de les Atzavares), which climbs to the fortress with chain sections and continues on to Orba: 9.5 km and 529 m of ascent in total for the full route, considerably less if you only climb to the castle and return the same way. From Benimaurell there is a more direct approach along a ridge, with extra scrambling. No bus: the service to Pego from Alacant terminates in Pego, and from there only taxi or car. From Alcoi or Guadalest allow 1h 15min via mountains; better pair with Castell d'Ambra or the Xaló watchtower for a fortress double. Bring thin gloves for the chain, helmet if with older children and 1 litre of water: no fountain on the ascent.

	On foot from Campell (SL-CV 185)	On foot from Benimaurell
Distance	Part of a 9.5 km path to Orba; one-way to the castle is considerably less	More direct, via ridge
Elevation	529 m cumulative on the full path	Extra scrambling
Difficulty	Moderate, chain sections, not for vertigo sufferers	Moderate-high
Cost	Free	Free

When to go and what to bring?

October to May, avoiding heat and storms. In summer rock burns and the chain scorches to touch; in winter the spur funnels wind and stone can be damp and slippery. Start early to have the castle alone: after 11am local groups appear on weekends. Hiking boots with grippy soles are mandatory, not smooth trainers. No bins or toilets: bring a bag, headlamp if staying to sunset and rope only if you distrust the chains (not needed for adults without mobility issues). If you want a guided castle, go to Biar castle or Villena; if you want a hanging ruin with a void parade ground, this is it. Allow anywhere from a couple of hours to half a day, depending on your starting point and whether you only climb to the castle or complete the path to Orba.

What to do nearby once you are there?

Vall de Laguar fills a full day: descend the 6,000 steps of Barranco del Infierno (PR-CV 147), eat in Fleix and climb the Xaló range. From Pego, the Marjal with boardwalks and bird hides, and in Dénia the castle and Montgó close with sea. Continuing inland, Sella and its castle or Confrides and the Aitana extend the route without returning to crowded Benidorm.

Tip: The final stretch has an 8 m chained rock face with no railing — bring gloves and go only in good weather, no children.