Cycling Route Guardamar - Rojales

The Segura river in the Sierra de Segura 5 kilometers from Pontón Bajo, in a small village called Fuente Segura, in the municipality of Santiago-Pontones (Jaén). It runs through the provinces of Jaén, Albacete, Murcia and Alicante. It flows into the Mediterranean, in Guardamar del Segura (Alicante), after a journey of 325 km. It is one of the rivers with the greatest hydrological use in Spain and the route found here. The route at the height of Bigastro. We chose as a starting point the roundabout prior to access to the N-332 road, just at the end of Madrid street and about 200 m., From the Local Police station. We chose this point because it is easily accessible, and I will be right at the beginning of the route. As soon as we cross the bridge over the river we take the path of the green corridor of the Segura river towards the west. We start on the south bank of the river, but guarantee passes to the north bank. The criterion will be to trace the code on the north side and go down the south margin. The change of margin always offers us perspectives of the river, as well as the surrounding garden and its municipalities. Thus we arrive at Rojales, where the route is cut and we must cross its urban core without major problem that we never lose in the sight of the river. Since at this point we only carry 6 km, we will continue on the road without stopping. In just 2.5 km., More arrived in Formentera del Segura, where it is very well maintained with a concrete pavement and pampered gardening. In addition, we can enjoy the water wheel of the seventeenth century, located in the municipality of Benijófar (On the other side of the path that we carry at this time). It is located in a middle in the urban core, forming part of the hydraulic assembly which also includes the Flour Mill of Formentera del Segura and Azud. Built with masonry walls in the middle of the s. XVII (1659) is classified as a symbol of the city and the town of Benijófar. Our next milestone is between Almoradí and Algorfa, where the route forces us to make a roundabout with traffic when crossing the CV-935. Without major problem, we continue west until we reach Benejúzar, without leaving the route since the urban center is on the other side of the river. On kilometer twenty-five and a half we can see the wooden bridge over the Segura River as it passes through Jacarilla, through which we can travel on the way back. Just halfway, at the height of Bigastro, we change the river's margin to return to the south side. We change direction between the districts of La Campaneta and Molins, on the bridge that makes up El Rincón. We start this way back. But contrary to what happens in other river paths in which the inclination of the road is perfectly perceived, in this case the slope is so small (Note that Bigastro is about 35 meters above sea level), that the hardness of the road is going to mark the direction of the wind, and not the supposed inclination of the path, practically flat. Already back, at kilometer twenty-six, we cross the reguerón between Bigastro and Molins, which flows into the Segura river, and in just one kilometer we reach the wooden bridge over the same river, in Jacarilla. This area, known as the Jacarilla meander, has been the subject of various actions to avoid overflow problems in river floods, as well as environmental conditioning, the bridge being the symbol of this improvement. At the height of Benejúzar we are obliged to cycle a roundabout as it passes through the CV-914, and we continue our route to Algorfa. In this case we decided to continue the march, but we can enjoy from the riverbed of the beautiful "skyline" of the municipality, highlighting the parish church dedicated to Our Lady of Carmen. If we decide to visit Algorfa, Montemar Castle is a mandatory stop. This manor house was built at the end of the 18th century, it never had military uses despite its appearance, and its style is somewhat French, something unusual in the area. At kilometer forty of the route we pass by the water wheel of the seventeenth century, located in the municipality of Benijófar, and continue to the town of Rojales, for now if with more than forty kilometers on the legs make a small stop at any of the terraces of the Malecon Diputación de Alicante street, while we enjoy the views of the Charles III bridge. Its construction, dating from the eighteenth century, meant breaking the natural separation imposed by the river and establishing, through its three large eyes under bell arch vaults, the union of the two halves of the municipality. Finally, once the forces are recovered, we finish our route to reach the town of Guardamar del Segura again. It should be noted that this route, being back and forth along the river, we can adjust it to the conditions of the group, and return at the time we want taking advantage of the various river level crossings and existing walkways along the way.