Serra de la Valldàngel
Encyclopedia
Serra de la Valldàngel or Serra de la Vall d'Àngel, , also known as Sierra de Valdancha, is a mountain range in the Baix Maestrat
comarca, Castellón Province, Valencian Community
, Spain
.
Its highest summit is Tossal d'en Canes (715 m), being slightly higher than neighboring Talaies d'Alcalà
's highest summit. Another important peak is 520 m high El Cavall.
The range is named "Valley of the Angel" after the Ermita de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels de Sant Mateu, a church on a hill dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the angel
s. Its southern and southeastern limit is within Alcalà de Xivert
's municipal term. The Talaies d'Alcalà
mountains form a natural boundary at the southeastern end of the range.
and La Salzadella. The intermittent river Rambla d'Alcalà has its origin in the Serra de la Vall d'Àngel.
The range is covered with low Mediterranean forest
and Maquis shrubland
. Parts of the lower slopes are planted with olive
, almond
and carob tree
s.
Geologically the Serra de la Valldàngel belongs to the Iberian System
, being part of the system's easternmost foothills, but its NE - SW orientation is clearly that of the Catalan Mediterranean System
.
This mountain range was the scenario of violent battles both during the Third Carlist War
(1872-76) in the 19th century and again in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War
when the fascist troops, after splitting the Spanish Republic
an government territory in two, tried in vain to reach Valencia, for the practically defeated Republican army opposed ferocious resistance in these mountains. The war would, however, be over just a few months later.
Baix Maestrat
Baix Maestrat is a comarca in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*Alcalà de Xivert*Benicarló*Càlig*Canet lo Roig*Castell de Cabres*Cervera del Maestre*Chert/Xert*La Jana*Peñíscola*La Pobla de Benifassà...
comarca, Castellón Province, Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Its highest summit is Tossal d'en Canes (715 m), being slightly higher than neighboring Talaies d'Alcalà
Talaies d'Alcalà
Talaies d'Alcalà , also known as Serra de les Talaies or simply Les Talaies, is a 21.5 km long mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Valencian Community, Spain. Its highest point is Talaia Grossa ....
's highest summit. Another important peak is 520 m high El Cavall.
The range is named "Valley of the Angel" after the Ermita de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels de Sant Mateu, a church on a hill dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s. Its southern and southeastern limit is within Alcalà de Xivert
Alcalà de Xivert
Alcalà de Xivert is a town and municipality in the Baix Maestrat comarca, province of Castelló, Valencian Community, Spain.The main town is located inland in a flat valley between the two mountain ranges of Serra d'Irta and Serra de les Talaies...
's municipal term. The Talaies d'Alcalà
Talaies d'Alcalà
Talaies d'Alcalà , also known as Serra de les Talaies or simply Les Talaies, is a 21.5 km long mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Valencian Community, Spain. Its highest point is Talaia Grossa ....
mountains form a natural boundary at the southeastern end of the range.
Description
The range stretches inland in a NE - SW direction east of Sant MateuSant Mateu
Sant Mateu is a town and municipality in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón, part of the autonomous community of Valencia.- Sights :The most interesting sights in Sant Mateu are:*Església arxiprestal church building....
and La Salzadella. The intermittent river Rambla d'Alcalà has its origin in the Serra de la Vall d'Àngel.
The range is covered with low Mediterranean forest
Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, defined by the World Wildlife Fund, characterized by dry summers and rainy winters. Summers are typically hot in low-lying inland locations but can be cool near some seas, as near San Francisco, which have a sea of cool waters...
and Maquis shrubland
Maquis shrubland
thumb|220px|Low Maquis in Corsica.220px|thumb|High macchia in Sardinia.Maquis or macchia is a shrubland biome in the Mediterranean region, typically consisting of densely growing evergreen shrubs such as holm oak, tree heath, strawberry tree, sage, juniper, buckthorn, spurge olive and myrtle...
. Parts of the lower slopes are planted with olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
, almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
and carob tree
Carob tree
Ceratonia siliqua, commonly known as the Carob tree and St John's-bread, is a species of flowering evergreen shrub or tree in the pea family, Fabaceae...
s.
Geologically the Serra de la Valldàngel belongs to the Iberian System
Sistema Ibérico
The Sistema Ibérico or Iberian System is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.It is a vast and complex system of mountain chains and massifs located in the central regions of the Iberian Peninsula, but reaching almost the Mediterranean coast in the Land of Valencia in the east.From...
, being part of the system's easternmost foothills, but its NE - SW orientation is clearly that of the Catalan Mediterranean System
Catalan Mediterranean System
The Catalan Mediterranean System, also known as Mediterranean System, Transversal Ibero-Pyrenaean System and Catalanid Systemis a wide coastal geographical region in Catalonia...
.
History
The Ermita de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels was built in the 17th century. It is one of the most important landmarks of neighboring Sant Mateu town.This mountain range was the scenario of violent battles both during the Third Carlist War
Carlist Wars
The Carlist Wars in Spain were the last major European civil wars in which contenders fought to establish their claim to a throne. Several times during the period from 1833 to 1876 the Carlists — followers of Infante Carlos and his descendants — rallied to the cry of "God, Country, and King" and...
(1872-76) in the 19th century and again in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
when the fascist troops, after splitting the Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
an government territory in two, tried in vain to reach Valencia, for the practically defeated Republican army opposed ferocious resistance in these mountains. The war would, however, be over just a few months later.