Biosphere Sustainable Certificate
Peñíscola, committed to the conservation, enhancement and dissemination of the uniqueness of its tourist resources, has worked strategically to strike a balance between tourist activity and the protection of its environment.
The implementation of its Tourism Sustainability Plan contemplates multiple actions in this respect, for the promotion of sustainable mobility, the creation of new tourism products and in its commitment to tourism intelligence.
The improvement of the destination’s competitiveness lies precisely in its commitment to continuous improvement, quality and the implementation of its management systems, which make it possible to monitor progress and the fulfilment of objectives.
This transversal commitment in all management areas of the administration is also found in the local business fabric, involved in achieving the joint objective of continuing to grow as a sustainable tourist destination.
Electric recharging points and bicycle racks
Marjal Promenade
The Peñíscola Marsh is a protected wetland included in the Valencian Catalogue of Wetlands, in the Natura 2000 Network as a Site of Community Interest (SCI) of the European Union and declared a Conservation Area for the endemic fish samarugo (Valencia hispanica) and fartet (Aphanius iberus).
You will find different wooden bridges that cross the Marjal; in the port area, next to the Plaza Constitución square and a 400-metre wooden footbridge that crosses part of the Marjal. On this route, which is signposted as a safe route for schoolchildren, you can enjoy the local flora and fauna.
This wetland receives groundwater that flows through small lakes known as ullals, whose overflowing floods the lowlands, giving rise to a marshy area or marshland. To facilitate the drainage of the water towards the sea, man created artificial channels that meet and flow into Peñíscola’s South Beach.
The different conditions of flooding and salinity of the water allow the development of diverse vegetation communities specific to these environments, which are a refuge for numerous species of animals, including endemic fish and birds linked to the aquatic environment. It is a valuable and fragile space whose conservation depends on multiple aspects.
Canal
Drainage channel known as the Riu Ample or Séquia Templera. It is the widest and most abundant of those existing in the marshland, running from north to south through its central part.
Samaruc
The Peñíscola marsh is home to the largest known population of the Samaruc (Valencia hispanica – Valenciennes, 1846). An endemic Iberian fish whose distribution is limited to the coastline between the Ebro delta and the marshes of Pego and Oliva, it is one of the Spanish fish species with the smallest population, and is on the verge of extinction.
Ullal
Groundwater spring known locally as Ullal, of which there are several distributed throughout the marshes. These springs make it possible to flood the marsh all year round and are the main refuge for the protected species of fish that inhabit the marsh.
Recommendations for your visit promoting conservation and sustainability
Infringements and penalties specified in Law 11/1994, of 27 December 1994, on Protected Natural Spaces of the Valencian Community.
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