Benicàssim

Benicàssim
Municipality
Benicàssim and Desert de les Palmes mountains from the air, 2011.

Flag
Coat of arms
Benicàssim
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 40°03′19″N 0°03′51″E / 40.05528°N 0.06417°E / 40.05528; 0.06417Coordinates: 40°03′19″N 0°03′51″E / 40.05528°N 0.06417°E / 40.05528; 0.06417
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Valencian Community
Province Castelló
Comarca Plana Alta
Judicial district Castelló de la Plana
Government
 • Alcalde Francesc Colomer Sánchez (2007) (PSOE)
Area
 • Total 36.1 km2 (13.9 sq mi)
Elevation 15 m (49 ft)
Population (2008)
 • Total 18,098
 • Density 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Benicassut, benicassuda
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 12560
Official language(s) Spanish and Valencian
Website Official website
Sale in Benicassim circa 1824 by Edward Hawke Locker
Terrers Beache (Benicàssim)

Benicàssim (Valencian pronunciation: [beniˈkasim], Spanish: Benicasim, Arabic: بنو قاسم‎ according to numismatic findings)[1] is a municipality and beach resort located in the province of Castelló, on the Costa del Azahar in Spain. The Desert de les Palmes mountain range further inland shelters the town from the north wind. The name is derived from the Banu Qasim tribe, a segment of the Kutama Berbers that settled the area during the 8th century Moorish conquest of Spain.

Benicassim is located 13 km north of the town of Castelló de la Plana, at the north end of the Valencian Community. The town has a population of 18,098. Its economy is largely based on tourism; the town is well known for its beaches and its music festivals such as Festival Internacional de Benicàssim (FIB) and the Rototom Sunsplash.

Beaches

Benicassim has 6 kilometers of sandy beaches linked by a promenade. The five beaches in this stretch of coast are named

  • Voramar
  • Heliòpolis
  • Almadraba Beache (Benicasim-Benicàssim)
    Torreón
  • Almadraba
  • Els terrers

The beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag quality certification since 1987.

Desert of the Palms

Just inland from Benicàssim lies the Desert of the Palms (Valencian: Desert de les Palmes; Spanish: Desierto de las Palmas). The area is not a literal desert, but a protected natural area and a small mountain range with a maximum elevation of 729 meters (at the peak of Mount Bartolo). The Columbretes Islands are visible from the top of the range on clear days.

Festivals

Benicassim
  • MABE Benicàssim Art Show.[2]

Vía Verde

The ”Vía Verde” (green way) is a 5.5 km long cycle path along the rugged coast between the resort towns of Benicassim and Oropesa.

Notes

  1. ↑ benicassim.org/es/Historia.htm
  2. ↑ INVATTUR Archived September 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. , Instituto Valenciano de Tecnologías Turísticas.
Heliòpolis Beache (Benicàssim)
Torre Sant Vicent Beache (Benicàssim)
Terrers Beache (Benicàssim-Benicasim)
Ruines del castell medieval de Benicàssim
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