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Benicàssim

Coordinates: 40°03′19″N 0°03′51″E / 40.05528°N 0.06417°E / 40.05528; 0.06417
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Benicàssim
Benicàssim (Valencian)
Benicasim (Spanish)
Benicasim / Benicàssim (official)
Aerial view of Benicàssim
Aerial view of Benicàssim
Flag of Benicàssim
Coat of arms of Benicàssim
Map
Location of Benicàssim
Benicàssim is located in Valencian Community
Benicàssim
Benicàssim
Benicàssim is located in Spain
Benicàssim
Benicàssim
Coordinates: 40°03′19″N 0°03′51″E / 40.05528°N 0.06417°E / 40.05528; 0.06417
Country Spain
Autonomous community Valencian Community
ProvinceCastellón
ComarcaPlana Alta
Judicial districtCastellón de la Plana
Government
 • AlcaldeFrancesc Colomer Sánchez (2007) (PSOE)
Area
 • Total
36.1 km2 (13.9 sq mi)
Elevation
15 m (49 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total
18,055
 • Density500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Benicense
Benicassut/da
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
12560
Official language(s)Spanish and Valencian
WebsiteOfficial website
Sale in Benicassim circa 1824 by Edward Hawke Locker
Terrers Beach (Benicasim/Benicàssim)

Benicàssim (Valencian: [beniˈkasim]; Spanish: Benicasim [benikaˈsin]); officially Benicasim / Benicàssim)[2] is a municipality and beach resort located in the province of Castellón, on the Costa del Azahar in Spain. The Desert de les Palmes mountain range further inland shelters the town from the north wind.

Benicàssim is located 13 km north of the town of Castellón de la Plana, at the north end of the Valencian Community. The town has a population of 18,991 (2021). 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.


Placename

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The placename has an Arabic origin, consisting of a compound name using the characteristic Arabic base feature beni ('sons of'; < beni-Qasim).[3] The name is derived from the Banu Qasim tribe, a segment of the Kutama Berbers that settled the area during the 8th century Arab conquest of Spain.[citation needed]

Geography

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Beaches

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Almadraba Beach (Benicasim-Benicàssim)

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

  • Almadrava Beach (Platja de l'Almadrava)
  • Heliopolis Beach (Platja Heliòpolis)
  • Els Terrers Beach (Platja dels Terrers)
  • Tower of Saint Vincent Beach (Platja de la Torre de Sant Vicent)
  • Voramar Beach (Platja de Voramar): This beach is famous for its villas along a beach front promenade.[4]  

Desert of the Palms

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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

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Benicassim
  • MABE Benicàssim Art Show.[5]

Green Way

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The Via Verda or Vía Verde (Green Way) is a 5.5 km long cycle and walking path along the rugged coast between the resort towns of Benicàssim and Oropesa del Mar (Orpesa).

Notes

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  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ "Patrimoni cultural/Patrimonio cultural - Generalitat Valenciana".
  3. ^ García Sánchez, Jairo J. (27 June 2003). "La Comunidad Valenciana y sus topónimos (II)". Rinconete. Centro Virtual Cervantes. ISSN 1885-5008.
  4. ^ Caro (2017-10-11). "The Villas of Benicassim Castellon Spain". Taste of Savoie. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  5. ^ INVATTUR Archived September 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Instituto Valenciano de Tecnologías Turísticas.
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Heliópolis Beach (Benicasim/Benicàssim)
Torre San Vicente / Sant Vicent Beach (Benicasim/Benicàssim)
Terrers Beach (Benicasim-Benicàssim)
Ruins of the Benicasim/Benicàssim medieval castle