Route 5: Les Rotes – Torre del Gerro – Cabo de San Antonio

Route through the eastern end of the Montgó Natural Park.

Route for people initiated in Nordic Walking, leaving from Les Rotes in Dénia, will take us to Cabo de San Antonio.

We start our route from the viewpoint of cetaceans of Les Rotes, from there we will go to the Torre del Gerro, to reach the highest part of the route. Our next point of reference will be Els Molins de les Planes and from there the recreational area and the Cabo de San Antonio lighthouse.

Route Data

Starting point : End of Les Rotes (Dénia), next to the Milky Way road.
Distance : 13.8 km (linear route)
Slope : 440 m accumulated
Terrain : Seafront promenade at the beginning, asphalted stretches, mountain path, forest track and stony paths in the Montgó area.
Duration : 4 h 30' (one way)
Difficulty : High

Wikiloc

Gerro Tower, a defensive watchtower from the 16th century.

This tower, 13.5 m high, is part of the network of fortifications erected along the coast in the 16th century to prevent the constant incursions of Barbary pirates.

The truncated cone-shaped circular tower has two superimposed bodies, the lower one acting as a buttress of the structure.

The access door to its interior is elevated from the base. Two machicolations defend the access door. It emphasizes the coat of arms of Carlos V, with 4 bars, crown of the old Kingdom of Valencia and the double-headed eagle of the Austria. In the interior the different levels are communicated by an opening, which is accessed by means of a mobile staircase or simple rope.

There is evidence of another tower located in the current lighthouse of Sant Antoni, in addition to the tower of L’Almadrava. The towers had visual communication, although they also used other means, such as signals with mirrors, fire, etc. They had guards who were in charge of the custody of the towers, as well as of eventual transfers to other towers or citadels in case of danger.

Its name comes from its curious “gerro” or “pitxer” (vase) shape.
Els Molins de les Planes

The mills of “Les Planes” reigned in this viewpoint from that first construction in the 14th century. It was followed years later by ten other towers, whose remains, now without blades or cover, can still be seen in such a unique corner of the coast, although in different levels of conservation. Mills that had to be made with the rush of the “llebeig”, the southwest wind that blows almost constantly in the Trencall de la Plana. The mills, now in disuse, incorporated robust mechanisms of holm oak wood that made the heavy circular stone millstones move.
Cabo de San Antonio Recreational Area

Area located in the heart of the Montgó Natural Park, surrounded by vegetation with beautiful views of the sea and from where you can make several hiking trails. The area has picnic tables.