Bocairent

In the 9th century, the Arab Bekiren had an important centre of rural population that lived with a group of soldiers. Their economic base was agriculture and, at the same time, a newly found trade and wool industry. At that time there were different areas in the town, such as the quarter of the Virgen de Agosto and the one of San Juan, apart from the mosque and the castle (located in the present site of the Parish Church).

When Biar surrendered in 1245, Jaime I took the town and, in 1255, it was repopulated with Christians (first extension of the town). Later on, the town was extended as the development of the textile industry was increasing. In 1418, Bocairent, Ontinyent and Biar were named Villas Reales (“Royal Towns”) by King Alfonso V “The Magnanimous”. During the 16th century, textile industry of Bocairent had its own golden age and Felipe II gave it the name of Real Fábrica de Paños.

We suggest going for a walk through the town to get to know it better.

We can start our trip in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (“Square of the Town Hall”) and then go to the medieval quarter. Firstly, we find the Parish Church of the Virgen de la Asunción.

This church was built in the site where the old Arab castle was located. Originally, it was built in Gothic style, but later on it was adapted to the Baroque style. There you can find the main characteristics of Valencian art, from the Gothic to the 19th century. In 1748, the earthquake of Montesa damaged the bell tower, which was rebuilt in 1766.

The church has three naves and two outstanding elements. The first one is the bell tower, which is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Valencian classicism. The second one is the main façade, that was rebuilt in the 18th century. A niche with an image of the Virgen de la Asunción was added.

Especially noteworthy are several elements you can find in the interior of the church: the works of artists José Segrelles and Juan de Juanes in the high altar; the chapel decorated with fresco paintings from the 18th century; San Blas' Chapel, with churrigueresque decoration; and the Baptismal Font, an old public fountain from the 15th century.

The Parish Museum houses outstanding works, from which the processional cross and the altarpiece of the Virgen de la Salud, both from the 15th century, are the most important. There can also be found different pieces of pottery (15th century), sculptures, gold and silver articles and paintings made by relevant artists, such as Mariano Benlliure, Segrelles or Sorolla.

We leave the church and go now to the medieval quarter, with a labyrinthine structure of narrow streets and small squares that takes us back in time.

There are three routes throughout the medieval quarter which have been plublished by the Town Hall of Bocairent. If you want to visit Bocairent, we recommend you these routes and, of course, the visit to “l'Emboç”, one of the most emblematic streets of this town. As it is extremely narrow, when you look to the sky the façades seem to get closer together.

“Batle” was one of the most important streets during the Middle Ages. There you can find a group of ancestral homes and a niche which commemorates San Vicente Ferrer.

In the “Placita de la Prisión” (small square) there was the old Town Hall, where San Blas was proclaimed patron saint of Bocairent in 1632. There you can also find the “Casa del Batle” (16th century), with a balcony, Mudejar cornice and a Tuscan window divided by a mullion.

The most outstanding streets of this area are “Les Voltes” (in Arabic style), “Cantería”, “Virgen de Agosto”, “l'Aljub” and “la Prensa”.

Other remarkable elements you can observe are the fountains, most of them built throughout the 18th century. The most important ones are “l'Escaleta”, the fountain of Gràcia, “l'Aljub” and “l'Almaguer”.

In the past, there was a wall that protected the town against the enemies, as it happened in all medieval towns. In Bocairent, the wall did not surrounded the entire town, but the places where it was necessary.

On the one hand, the walled area had access from several doors of entrance. The only one that remains standing today is the Virgen de Agosto gate. On the other hand, the town had also access from the bridge called “Darrere la Vila” (one of the most important of the Middle Ages), San Blas' Gate and the Portico of the “Calçada excusada”. However, these places have suffered different changes with the passage of time.

There are three chapels in the medieval quarter. San Juan's Chapel, from the 13th century, is the oldest and the first one built in Bocairent. It is an old mosque. The façade, in Gothic style, and the retable of the high altar are the most remarkable elements.

The Virgen de Agosto's Chapel, built in 1245 by Jaime I troops, is located next to the Agosto gate, the only one which remains standing and that was the entrance to the walled area of Bocairent.

The Virgen de los Desamparados' Chapel is on the second floor of a house from the 18th century, in an uneven piece of land.

Other four chapels are placed making a cross with the rest of the town: the Santo Cristo's chapel (16th century); San Jaime's chapel (15th century), in Gothic style, built in honour of the first patron saint of Bocairent; San Antonio de Padua's chapel (18th century); and San Antonio Abad's chapel (16th century), built as a monastery, with remarkable elements such as the mural paintings and the Romanesque Pantocrator in stone.

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	Introduction \| Llutxent \| Albaida \| Ontinyent \| Bocairent \| Route on pdf Bocairent In the 9th century, the Arab Bekiren had an important centre of rural population that lived with a group of soldiers. Their economic base was agriculture and, at the same time, a newly found trade and wool industry. At that time there were different areas in the town, such as the quarter of the Virgen de Agosto and the one of San Juan, apart from the mosque and the castle (located in the present site of the Parish Church). When Biar surrendered in 1245, Jaime I took the town and, in 1255, it was repopulated with Christians (first extension of the town). Later on, the town was extended as the development of the textile industry was increasing. In 1418, Bocairent, Ontinyent and Biar were named Villas Reales (“Royal Towns”) by King Alfonso V “The Magnanimous”. During the 16th century, textile industry of Bocairent had its own golden age and Felipe II gave it the name of Real Fábrica de Paños. We suggest going for a walk through the town to get to know it better. We can start our trip in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (“Square of the Town Hall”) and then go to the medieval quarter. Firstly, we find the Parish Church of the Virgen de la Asunción. This church was built in the site where the old Arab castle was located. Originally, it was built in Gothic style, but later on it was adapted to the Baroque style. There you can find the main characteristics of Valencian art, from the Gothic to the 19th century. In 1748, the earthquake of Montesa damaged the bell tower, which was rebuilt in 1766. The church has three naves and two outstanding elements. The first one is the bell tower, which is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Valencian classicism. The second one is the main façade, that was rebuilt in the 18th century. A niche with an image of the Virgen de la Asunción was added. Especially noteworthy are several elements you can find in the interior of the church: the works of artists José Segrelles and Juan de Juanes in the high altar; the chapel decorated with fresco paintings from the 18th century; San Blas' Chapel, with churrigueresque decoration; and the Baptismal Font, an old public fountain from the 15th century. The Parish Museum houses outstanding works, from which the processional cross and the altarpiece of the Virgen de la Salud, both from the 15th century, are the most important. There can also be found different pieces of pottery (15th century), sculptures, gold and silver articles and paintings made by relevant artists, such as Mariano Benlliure, Segrelles or Sorolla. We leave the church and go now to the medieval quarter, with a labyrinthine structure of narrow streets and small squares that takes us back in time. There are three routes throughout the medieval quarter which have been plublished by the Town Hall of Bocairent. If you want to visit Bocairent, we recommend you these routes and, of course, the visit to “l'Emboç”, one of the most emblematic streets of this town. As it is extremely narrow, when you look to the sky the façades seem to get closer together. “Batle” was one of the most important streets during the Middle Ages. There you can find a group of ancestral homes and a niche which commemorates San Vicente Ferrer. In the “Placita de la Prisión” (small square) there was the old Town Hall, where San Blas was proclaimed patron saint of Bocairent in 1632. There you can also find the “Casa del Batle” (16th century), with a balcony, Mudejar cornice and a Tuscan window divided by a mullion. The most outstanding streets of this area are “Les Voltes” (in Arabic style), “Cantería”, “Virgen de Agosto”, “l'Aljub” and “la Prensa”. Other remarkable elements you can observe are the fountains, most of them built throughout the 18th century. The most important ones are “l'Escaleta”, the fountain of Gràcia, “l'Aljub” and “l'Almaguer”. In the past, there was a wall that protected the town against the enemies, as it happened in all medieval towns. In Bocairent, the wall did not surrounded the entire town, but the places where it was necessary. On the one hand, the walled area had access from several doors of entrance. The only one that remains standing today is the Virgen de Agosto gate. On the other hand, the town had also access from the bridge called “Darrere la Vila” (one of the most important of the Middle Ages), San Blas' Gate and the Portico of the “Calçada excusada”. However, these places have suffered different changes with the passage of time. There are three chapels in the medieval quarter. San Juan's Chapel, from the 13th century, is the oldest and the first one built in Bocairent. It is an old mosque. The façade, in Gothic style, and the retable of the high altar are the most remarkable elements. The Virgen de Agosto's Chapel, built in 1245 by Jaime I troops, is located next to the Agosto gate, the only one which remains standing and that was the entrance to the walled area of Bocairent. The Virgen de los Desamparados' Chapel is on the second floor of a house from the 18th century, in an uneven piece of land. Other four chapels are placed making a cross with the rest of the town: the Santo Cristo's chapel (16th century); San Jaime's chapel (15th century), in Gothic style, built in honour of the first patron saint of Bocairent; San Antonio de Padua's chapel (18th century); and San Antonio Abad's chapel (16th century), built as a monastery, with remarkable elements such as the mural paintings and the Romanesque Pantocrator in stone. << Previous stage Routes' index Up
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