The Jalon Valley (also known as Vall de Pop) is situated inland from the coastal towns of Denia, Javea and Moraira. The Jalon Valley is on the Costa Blanca coast of Spain.

With some areas on the Costa Blanca coast becoming somewhat built up and overcrowded the Jalon Valley attracts a more discerning visitor and resident who appreciates more of a country feel although the coast and it's beautiful beaches are still only 20 minutes drive away.

The Jalon Valley has some of the best scenery in Spain. There are magnificent mountains which surround the plains of olive trees, orange groves, vineyards, raisins and almonds. Peppered in the Jalon Valley are unspoilt villages including Alcalali, Jalon, Lliber and Parcent. Right in the heart of it all you find Finca "El Molino", one of the most stunning buildings at the Costa Blanca. The Finca "El Molino" is situated at the edge of Jalon village and only a 10 minute walk away from the village centre. Finca "El Molino" is a well photographed building and a favourite scene for artist painters.

The Jalon Valley is a walker's paradise ranging from a very gentle stroll to a six hour walk around the Sierra Bernia mountains to the south of Jalon. In late January and early February the whole of the Jalon Valley is covered with pink and white almond blossom and is the best time to see it.

THE TOWN OF JALON

The village of Jalon is at the heart of the Jalon Valley. At the Old Square there is a fountain around which there is an open market held on Tuesday mornings. Seen from the square is the famous Jalon Church with its blue dome. Roaming around the many small streets, you will find an abundance of shops, bars and restaurants. Jalon is very famous for its local wines. There are several bodegas (wine cellars) where you can sample the various types before buying.

Jalon was under Arabic domination for over five hundred years. The Arabians built two castles, one for the Solana (the Aixa) and another in the Bernia. Both fortresses controlled the Jalon Valley and the numerous settlers. The Arabians left behind the typical house style, for which Jalon is famous today, i.e. houses of stone and old bricks with large wooden doors as well as decorated walls.

The Arabic culture influenced life in Jalon up to its final displacement in the year 1609. After that the trade with raisins became the major economic activity. Many farmers from Mallorca settled in Jalon in the 18th and 19th centuries and started cultivating the land, concentrating on grapes and raisin production.

The Vall del Pop (Jalon Valley)

It's the land of wine and honey. A magical place where centuries old traditions are still honoured despite the encroaching influence of 21st century foreigners who have an endless fascination with the achingly beautiful Vall del Pop.

Many foreigners refer to it as the Jalon Valley - taking the name from the valley's biggest pueblo with its emblematic blue domed church.

But whatever they choose to call it, foreign tourists and ex-pat home buyers have been drawn to the valley in their droves in recent years. So just what is it that's so special about the place?

Thirty years ago only a trickle of tourists drifted in and out of the valley. Some came to buy their wine at the famous bodegas of Jalon whilst others came armed with cameras to capture the awe-inspiring sight of the almond blossom which adorns the valley with a carpet of pink and white in late January and early February.

Word began to spread among the foreign community that the "Vall del Pop" was not only a beautiful place to visit but was also a treasure trove of excellent and reasonably priced “eateries”. Disillusioned with the over development of the cluttered coasts, an increasing number of ex-pats started to buy holiday and retirement homes in the valley and tour operators decided it was a worthy destination on their list of top 10 coach excursions.

Urbanisations started to spring up along the mountainsides and package holidaymakers from Benidorm and beyond booked day trips to the Vall del Pop with the aim of savouring a taste of “the real Spain ”.

  The upshot of all this is that a sizeable foreign community now co-exists with the local Spanish communities who somehow manage to continue living their lives much as they have done for generations. The villagers take their chairs out onto the pavements and while away the hours on summer evenings, chatting with neighbours or simply watching the world go by. Young children play in the streets, safe in the knowledge that the whole community is watching out for them. And the local master butchers produce a mouth watering array of home made sausages from secret recipes, passed down through the ages.

You can see the foreign influence in the wealth of international restaurants which have opened in the valley in recent years, in the glittering array of arts, crafts and gift shops and in the local newsagents now selling the Sun and Daily Mail alongside El Pais and Levante.

But the valley is still producing its own honey and the local farmers still go out on their tractors in September to harvest the almonds and bring the grapes into the local wine co-operatives.

The terraced mountainsides are reminders of the centuries of Moorish domination whilst menus offering up Japanese teriyaki and chicken tikka masala are signs of a more recent foreign “invasion”.

Jalon is the only place in the Vall del Pop which can reasonably be referred to as a town. It's the biggest and most cosmopolitan of all the pueblos but it's important to remember that there's more to the valley than Jalon (or Xalo as it's called in the local Valenciano language). The villages of Lliber and Senija lie to the east of Jalon and to the west are Alcalali, Parcent, Benichembla and Murla. At the source of the Jalon/Gorgos River, 20 kilometres from the town of Jalon , you'll find the charming village of Castell de Castells – it's the most remote pueblo in the valley and because of its distance from the coast it remains relatively untouched by tourism.

The weather and climate in the Jalon Valley is excellent. Jalon is a town on the Costa Blanca coast of Spain and enjoys more than 2,800 hours of sunshine each year with an average annual temperature of 19.3 degrees Celsius.

Because the weather and climate in the Jalon Valley is so favourable, the Jalon Valley has become a popular tourist destination for sun lovers enjoying approximately 325 sunny days each year.

Many people are also choosing to live in Jalon Valley due to the excellent all-year round weather conditions.

JALON VALLEY WEATHER IN THE SUMMER

The weather in summer in Jalon Valley is typically very hot with little to no rainfall. Summer temperatures in Jalon Valley will mostly be between 25 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius during the day. Temperatures in the summer in Jalon Valley rarely drop below 15 degrees Celsius.

In August the weather in Jalon Valley can be quite hot with some days reaching 40 degrees Celsius or more. Fortunately on most days you will most likely have cooling sea breezes.

Because Jalon Valley's humidity is low you won't feel the temperature is as high as it really is. Do take precautions and keep out of the sun between 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock. Always wear a high sun cream factor.

JALON VALLEY WEATHER IN THE WINTER

The weather in Jalon Valley in winter is very mild compared to northern Europe. Most winter days in the Jalon Valley are clear and sunny. The temperatures can vary greatly in winter however, one day it can be over 20 degrees Celsius and you will be walking around in your t-shirt, on another day it can be 6 degrees Celsius and feel very cold.

Even in the winter it doesn't rain much in Jalon Valley with November being the wettest month. 

JALON VALLEY CLIMATE

Jalon Valley is situated on the Costa Blanca and The World Health Organisation describes the climate of the Costa Blanca as one of being the best in the world. Jalon Valley's summers are hot but not too hot due to the cooling breezes and the winters in Jalon Valley are mild with many clear blue sunny days. Jalon Valley's climate and weather is very healthy especially for sufferers of arthritis.

AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURES IN JALON VALLEY

The table below illustrates the average temperature (both in Celsius and Fahrenheit) per month for Jalon Valley

AVERAGE MONTHLY SEA TEMPERATURES IN JALON VALLEY

The table below illustrates the average sea temperature (in Celsius) per month for Jalon Valley

AVERAGE HOURS OF SUN PER DAY IN JALON VALLEY

The table below illustrates the average number of hours of sun per each month for Jalon Valley

                        Jalon description