The project has been made possible thanks to a grant from the Impulsem Turisme programme of the Diputació de València.
Two gatekeeper’s huts located on the Antic Trenet nature trail have been converted into a Visitor Centre with new signage and interior and exterior branding, explaining the history of the old Carcaixent-Dénia train and the attractions of this sustainable nature tourism route. This refurbishment has been made possible thanks to the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta project with a grant from the Diputació de València through the Impulsem Turisme programme.
The project has refurbished these gatekeeper’s huts inside and out, thanks to careful work on the signage and image of the Antic Trenet Nature Trail. One of the huts is located next to the footbridge (kilometre 18.4) that crosses the CV50, in the direction from Alzira and Carcaixent towards La Barraca. This space has been themed around the old Carcaixent-Dénia railway, its uniqueness as a narrow-gauge train and its economic and social impact, which boosted citrus exports and later domestic tourism to the coast. On the other hand, the gatekeeper’s hut located on the way to the monastery of Aigües Vives (kilometre 12) showcases the natural and heritage attractions related to the Antic Trenet Nature Trail, from the modernist heritage of Carcaixent, the huts and stations to the monasteries of Aigües Vives and Santa Maria de la Valldigna and the wetlands towards the beach of Tavernes de la Valldigna.
The large-format interior signage consisted of the design of 32 new panels for a one-metre-high section inside the booths, with texts in three languages. The theme of the level-crossing guard booths as visitor centres focused on the past and future of the Trenet, as a draw for sustainable and alternative tourism thanks to the route of the Antic Trenet nature trail. The photographic image on the panels has been digitised specifically for the project, with the collaboration of the Amics de la Vieta association. The installation and materials have taken into account the conditions of this space.
In addition to the inclusion of QR codes, a new 360-degree subjective video has been made to experience the journey along the Carcaixent Natural Trail to Portitxol. The project has also enabled the publication and printing of new tourist material, such as informative leaflets and merchandise for the Natural Trail.
The two huts also include wrought iron signage to identify these resources, which will enable organised visits and welcome visitors to this tourist attraction.
These two gatekeeper’s huts form part of the existing railway heritage of this old track. They are rooms where those responsible for railway maintenance used to work. The buildings have been restored in recent years and are now being equipped to serve as interpretive centres for the history and present of the natural trail.
To mark this event, a visit by the authorities has been organised to see the new interior and exterior signage in the gatekeeper’s huts. The visit was attended by the president of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta, Paqui Momparler Orta; the mayor of Alzira, Alfons Domínguez; the mayor of La Barraca d’Aigües Vives, Amparo Pou; and the councillor for urban planning of Carcaixent, Rafa Orts.
‘Today is a very special day for the Ribera Alta, because we are taking another step forward in consolidating the Antic Trenet Nature Trail as a project shared by all the municipalities of the Mancomunitat. This initiative is a clear commitment to strengthening our territorial identity and promoting a model of sustainable tourism that highlights our heritage and our landscape,’ said Paqui Momparler.
