Rojales is a municipality in the Valencian Community located in the province of Alicante, in the Vega Baja del Segura region. Currently, it is a municipality with a strong increase in activities in the service sector, but it retains all its orchard charm.
Tourist attractions in Rojales
Rojales has a very important cultural activity around its many museums and theater. On the other hand, great rehabilitation work has been carried out in the Barrio de las Cuevas, currently constituting a habitat for artisan practice.
Carlos III Bridge
One of the most representative images of Rojales is the panoramic view of the Carlos III Bridge, whose magnificent pillars cross the Segura River like the feet of a giant. This perfect masonry work is currently one of the most significant elements of the municipality’s architectural composition, constituting an urban route of special interest to visitors.
Windmill
The Windmill is one of the most interesting constructions of the pre-industrial architecture of Rojales. It is located on one of the elevated hills of Parque Ladrillar to take better advantage of the force of the wind. This was built in the 18th century and only kept its factory in the form of a tower. Therefore, its current renovation (1998) has made it possible to restore its two original floors, as well as the machinery and internal gears.
Las Cuevas del Rodeo
Las Cuevas del Rodeo are a traditional complex of houses excavated in the rock between the 18th and 20th centuries and set up as cave-workshops for artisans and artists. It has an extensive ecomuseum of the Underground Habitat, with urban parks in its surroundings and an artisan souk in the caves of the Barrio del Rodeo. In addition, it is an attractive nucleus of training and participatory activities where courses, concerts, extracurricular activities, fairs, exhibitions of the world of arts and crafts are organized, among other things.
La Casa de las Conchas
The Casa de las Conchas, also known as the Casa de las Pichinas, is a 250 m² house and consists of a ground floor and a terrace. It was acquired by D. Manuel Fulleda Alcaraz in 1974 with the intention of establishing his residence in Rojales after spending 9 years in France.
At that time, the facade of the house was made of cement and it occurred to Mr. Fulleda to cover it with shells. Throughout 7 years he dedicated himself to collecting shells from different types of beaches in Guardamar del Segura and La Manga del Mar Menor, and it is estimated that there may be some 550,000 shells.
Other tourist attractions of special interest are: El Cabezo Soler, the Capitol Theater, Los Aljibes de Gasparito, Archaeological-Paleontological Museum, Cultural Center of Rojales and Ciudad Quesada, La Hacienda de los Llanos, among others.
Demography of Rojales
The existence of various residential developments has given rise to important population groups from other European countries, the majority being English and German.
In fact, Rojales has 15,978 inhabitants (INE 2021), most of whom reside in Ciudad Quesada (11,513 inhabitants). Therefore, Rojales is the second Spanish municipality with the highest percentage of foreigners, that is, 71.75% of the registered population. As a result, English is the most widely spoken language in the municipality.
Gastronomy in Rojales
Thanks to its orchard, Rojales has a wide variety of native products: oranges, lemons, artichokes, peppers, ñoras…
But if we talk about typical dishes, the stew with balls and the rice with rabbit and snails stand out in this municipality. However, it is also common to find light rice with vegetables, potato omelets, etc.
Regarding sweets, the following stand out: almojábanas, toñas, almonds, orange flan, coca de Sant Pedro, monas, rojalero pumpkin fritters, among others.
Sports in Rojales
Rojales stands out for its La Marquesa golf course, which is one of the oldest in the province. The course is located in a flat valley between mountains and protected by a unique microclimate that allows playing throughout the year. This course is rather urban and with excellent benefits.
In addition, it has the historic Thader Sports Club and a Grassroots Soccer School (from pre-benjamin to youth, and a women’s team), in which children from 6 years old to 19 years old play. The Thader Sports Club plays in the Municipal Stadium located in the sports complex. This sports complex has a covered pavilion, soccer fields, petanque courts, Olympic shooting, swimming pools, a futsal court, a basketball court, a tennis court, a children’s playground, etc.
Still, many locals are calling for more sports facilities to be built.
Infrastructure and property in Rojales
The infrastructure of Rojales is extensive. The municipality has numerous services: supermarkets, pharmacies, schools, parks, health centers, etc.
The houses in Rojales are usually apartments, bungalows and semi-detached houses; while, for example, in Ciudad Quesada you will not find high-rise buildings, since chalets, villas, bungalows and semi-detached houses predominate.
In addition, we cannot forget to mention El Recorral Park, a cattle grove that has become an enclave of dense pine vegetation where you can enjoy excursions or picnics.
