Ruta 99 is to be Valencia’s own Camino de Santiago, promoting villages with 99 inhabitants or fewer. Eugene Costello reports…
A new project to promote a walking route that aims to promote the least populated pueblos in the Comunidad of Valencia has gone live, the Generalitat of Valencia has announced.
To that end, it has launched a website promoting the tour, www.ruta99.gva.es
It promotes restaurants and gastronomy, “the values and attractions” of their natural and historical heritage, and their range of hotels and accommodation.
Ruta 99 to be Valencia’s Camino de Santiago
President Ximo Puig says that the plan is born of a desire to fight back against depopulation. He says the trail will showcase “the authentic interior of the Valencian Community. From Famorca to Herbers”. They plan to encourage residents and visitors to “get to know the land and Valencians”, said Puig at a press launch this week.
The Generalitat has drawn inspiration from the famous Camino de Santiago, arguably Spain’s most successful walking trail. It was declared the first Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 1987. It’s a network of pilgrim routes across France and Spain that leads to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwest Spain. Legend has it that the remains of St James the Great – Santiago – are buried here. It has been drawing visitors for hundreds of years. And these days it attracts more than 200,000 pilgrims and visitors annually.
Ruta 99 is to be Valencia’s Camino de Santiago, says Puig. And Ruta 99 is taking a leaf out of the Camino de Santiago book. It will offer walkers with a book or passport that can be stamped in each of these pueblos. The plan is to attract “Valencian pilgrims” to visit them in groups, either by motorcycle, by bike or on foot. And it will offer different rewards, “in a symbolic way”, for achieving the various stages, according to Valencia Bonita.
Ongoing strategic plan to fight depopulation and the myth of ‘Empty Spain’
A second phase is planned, called “Ruta 99 Plus”. In which towns with a larger population, tourist sites and organisations such as IVAM or Correos will get involved.
It should be seen against a background where commentators have described an “empty Spain”. It aims to promote towns. Showing that the towns in the interior of the Community are not empty but full of life, values and opportunities.
It seeks to change the narrative by saying, far from being empty, these towns are teeming with life, gastronomy and heritage. Not to mention wonderful views and landscapes. It is exactly why so many hiking groups are based here in the city of Valencia. All seeking to promote the beauty of the landscape to those living here.
One recent Valencia Life interview profiled June Verwijs of Valencian Hiking Friends, and there are many others doing similar work here.
Ruta 99: Artistic support from the community
Legendary Valencian outfit Bajoqueta Rock has composed a specific song to support the initiative. And it is included in the promotional video for Ruta 99 Valencia. Nothing says Valencian more than these guys. They sing in valenciano and were founded in 1986 in Riba-roja de Túria. Their trademark style is to popularise traditional village folk songs with their hallmark wit and humour.
Yesterday, the band posted on its Facebook page:
“Hey people, how are you doing? We are locals and we are very proud to put our music into this interesting project, Ruta 99.
“Many thanks to Generalitat Valenciana for thinking of us.
“Let’s all do the #Ruta99
“Cheers! Rock & roll and Ruta99
“#BajoquetaRock #GeneralitatValenciana #Ruta99”
And photographer Marga Ferrer has dedicated her exhibition The Inner Gaze to the effort. This is a travel exhibition made up of photographs of each of these towns. that humanises the interior of the Community by featuring the neighbours who inhabit the place. You can see her Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marga_ferrer/?hl=en
Levante adds that Ruta 99 Valencia stops in those regions most affected by depopulation. Therefore adding a socio-economic urgency to the promotion.
List of participating pueblos
The newspaper has listed all participating sites, reproduced here.
All municipalities
Route 99 – Castellon Province
Els Ports region:
- Herbes
- Palanques
- Vallibona
- Villores
Baix Maestrat region:
- Castell de Cabres
Alto Palancia region:
- Higueras, Matet
- Pavias
- Sacañet
Alto Mijares region:
- Espadilla
- Fuente la Reina
- Fuentes de Ayodar
- Torralba del Pinar
- Torrechiva
- Vallat
- Villamalur
- Villanueva de Viver
Route 99 –Valencia Province
Rincón de Ademuz region:
- Puebla de San Miguel
Vall d’Albaida region:
- Sempere
- Carrícola
Route 99 –Alicante Province
Comptat region:
- Benillup
- Benimassot
- Famorca
- Tollos
As you can see from the official flyer, the tagline is “Discover the most charming towns: Get to know the trail for the 24 towns in the Comunidad de Valencia with fewer than 100 inhabitants”. This is a worthy initiative. And a vital one to help the rural economy of our Comunidad.
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