Hoces del Cabriel from Requena

The Hoces del Cabriel form one of the most impressive river gorges in the whole of the Valencian Community and, possibly, one of the least visited given its beauty. Over millions of years, the River Cabriel, a tributary of the Júcar, has carved out a gorge up to 200 metres deep through a limestone massif of the Iberian System, forming vertical cliffs, enclosed meanders and natural viewpoints that are miniature versions of the great American canyons. The Hoces del Cabriel Nature Reserve, which protects the entire area, is also one of the few places in the Iberian Peninsula where the river’s waters remain virtually pristine: the Cabriel is considered one of the cleanest rivers in the whole of Western Europe, with water of a quality suitable for swimming at any point along the gorge.

The Mirador de los Cuchillos, in the municipality of Villargordo del Cabriel and reached on foot from the Contreras dam (N-III), is probably the most spectacular viewpoint in the canyon. From there, you can see the ‘swords’ or limestone folds that give the place its name: a series of parallel vertical ridges emerging from the bottom of the canyon like knives stuck in the ground. The geological explanation is fascinating: these formations were created tens of millions of years ago when the tectonic movements of the Alpine orogeny folded horizontal layers of limestone until they stood vertical, and subsequently river erosion wore away the softer layers, leaving the harder ones exposed. The result is one of the most spectacular geological landscapes in the Mediterranean.

Requena, the capital of the region and the starting point of the route, is the cultural highlight of the journey. Its Villa district, designated a Historic-Artistic Site, is one of the best-preserved medieval town centres in the whole of the Valencian Community: perched on a hilltop, with steep streets, cave houses dug into the ground, an 11th-century Moorish fortress still visible and an impressive Gothic-Renaissance church (Santa María). But Requena’s real claim to fame lies in its wine: the largest area of vineyards in the entire Valencian Community is cultivated here, and the Utiel-Requena Designation of Origin produces some of the most interesting wines in the east of the peninsula, particularly the reds made from Bobal, a native grape variety that was neglected for decades but has now been revived with excellent results.

One of Requena’s charming historical features is the Cueva de la Villa, a network of underground tunnels and galleries dug during the Middle Ages beneath the historic centre to serve as wine cellars, shelters and secret passageways in the event of a siege. There are around twenty registered caves (some still in use as private wine cellars) and several of them can be visited on a guided tour. Descending into these caves in the height of summer, when the temperature above reaches 38°C and below it remains a cool 14°C, is a thermal and historical experience that is hard to beat.

Motorcycling tips: the best times of year are spring and autumn; summers are very hot in this inland part of Valencia. Fill up with petrol in Requena at the start of the ride. For lunch in Requena, La Villa Restaurant serves traditional inland Valencian cuisine made with local produce and the finest wines from the Utiel-Requena Designation of Origin. And a tip: if you go in September, it coincides with the grape harvest and many wineries open their doors to the public for tours and tastings (Bodegas Vegalfaro, Pago de Tharsys and Hispano-Suizas are some of the most interesting). The combination of motorbikes, river canyons and wine is hard to beat.