Valencia is promoting Route 99, a brand new tourist initiative that includes 24 Valencian Community towns with fewer than 100 inhabitants, dubbed “a kind of Camino de Santiago a la Valenciana.”
Ximo Puig, President of the Generalitat, recently presented ” Route 99 “, a tourism promotion project designed to raise awareness of the twenty-four Valencian Community towns with fewer than 100 inhabitants that are at risk of depopulation.
During the presentation ceremony, the president stated that this idea will showcase “the authentic interior of the Valencian Community, from Famorca to Herbers” and will allow people to “get to know the land and Valencians.”
Ximo Puig described this route as “a kind of Camino de Santiago a la Valenciana,” a one-of-a-kind way to address the issue of “empty Spain (España Vacia),” demonstrating that the towns of the Community’s interior “are not empty, but full of life, values, and opportunities.”
The route, according to the president of the Generalitat, will help to “positively change the image of these towns” by utilizing their full potential, heritage, nature, and gastronomy.
Finally, he emphasized that this project is a part of a “strategic and ongoing action,” and he has already announced the launch of a second phase, dubbed “Ruta 99 Plus,” with the participation of municipalities with a larger population.
Route 99 is the brainchild of the Valencian Anti-Depopulation Agenda (AVANT), an initiative responsible for “the White Paper against Valencian depopulation” that “points to the dual goal of preventing anyone from leaving their town due to a lack of opportunities and improving the quality of life in all corners of the Community.”
The new route is promoted on the website www.ruta99.gva.es, which includes detailed information about the municipalities involved, such as their gastronomy, natural and historical heritage, hiking routes, and restaurant and accommodation recommendations.
Route 99, like the well-known Camino de Santiago, will provide travelers and tourists with credentials, a document that can be stamped in each of the participating municipalities. The document is available in PDF format on their website, so you can begin planning your trip as soon as tomorrow. There will also be various, but symbolic, rewards available for “Valencian pilgrims” who complete each stage of the route. So far, the only one that has been published is an official Route 99 backpack, which is available to anyone who visits at least 12 villages across three provinces.
Which towns are part of Route 99?
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
© Route 99 – Valencia’s Answer To The Camino De Santiago – valencian.es
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