Cofrentes is a village at the confluence of two rivers, the Júcar and the Cabriel, in the interior of Valencia province, and it has a curious mix of attractions. Above it stands a castle on a crag. Nearby rises the Cerro de Agrás, the only recently active volcano in the Valencian Community, a dark cone of basalt in a landscape of limestone. And just outside the village, the cooling towers of the Cofrentes nuclear power station send plumes of steam into the sky. The Peñón de los Machos, a rocky outcrop with painted shelters, lies in the hills between Cofrentes, Jalance and Jarafuel.
The Valle de Ayora-Cofrentes, the valley that runs south from here, is a fertile corridor between mountains, rich in prehistoric and Iberian sites. Painted shelters in the area hold Levantine and schematic art, part of the UNESCO-listed group. The name Peñón de los Machos, meaning rock of the billy goats, hints at the wild goats that still roam the cliffs. The site is protected and small, best visited with local information.
Cofrentes has thermal springs, and a spa has been operating here since the nineteenth century. The rivers offer boat trips through the gorges of the Júcar, and the reservoir of Embarcaderos is popular for kayaking. The castle on the crag above the village, with Muslim origins, can be visited, and the views over the confluence and the volcano are worth the climb.
The riding here is excellent. The road from Cofrentes south through Jalance, Jarafuel and Teresa de Cofrentes to Ayora follows the valley, with the mountains rising on both sides, and is fast and flowing. The road west toward Requena and the Cabriel gorge, and north toward Cortes de Pallás through the Júcar gorge, are spectacular, with tight bends, cliffs and reservoirs. Cortes de Pallás in particular is a twisty, remote route through a dramatic canyon. Surfaces vary; watch for gravel, and be careful on narrow sections.
Cofrentes has a fuel station and restaurants, and Ayora, about fifteen kilometres away, has more services. Local food includes gazpacho, the Manchegan stew, and honey from the mountains. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.