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The Hermitage of Pare Pere de Dénia: how to get there, history and photos

24 October 2020 - 01: 15

In full rise to Natural Park Montgó, there is one of the most visited hermitages in Dénia and the starting point of many hiking routes: the Pare Pere hermitage. It is dedicated to the religious Fray Pedro Esteve, the "Pare Pere" (Father Pedro, in Spanish). The hermitage is also well known in Dénia as the "Caseta del Pare Pere", because next to it is the small hut where the hermit spent the last years of his life, in direct contact with nature. As it is in the Natural Park, the hermitage does not have around it services such as restaurants or shops, only houses and urbanizations.

Location and plan

The Pare Pere hermitage is located in the I walked from the Cova de l'Aigua (the path of the Cueva del Agua), and you can access it in your private vehicle, on foot or by bicycle, since no public transport gets there. This is the map.

How to get

There are two itineraries: one leaving from Diana street and going up the Camí de Sant Joan, and the other starting from Plaza Jaume I and going up the Camí Pou de la Muntanya. The two accesses are suitable for cars, cyclists and walkers, however, the one from the Camí Pou de la Muntanya is narrower in some sections and presents more difficulty for large vehicles.

Along the Camí de Sant Joan

We leave from the roundabout on calle Diana, intersection with Joan Fuster and the beginning of the Camí de Sant Joan.

After about 600 meters, before the urbanization Al-Khalif (You will see a tower of Arabic inspiration), we come to an islet with a carob tree where we have to take the detour to the right and continue until we come to a crossroads. Once at this point, we will take the path to the right, the Camí Assagador de Santa Llúcia, to a new junction located about 300 meters away where we will see indications. We follow the path to the left and climb about 400 meters, until we find the Pare Pere sculpture in front of the hermitage.

Along the Camí Pou de la Muntanya

The second itinerary starts from Plaza Jaume I, from where we take Avenida del Montgó. Once we crossed the tracks of the trenet, we continue up the Camí Pou de la Muntanya until the path narrows, and there we will see indications to the hermitage. Take the detour to the right and follow the Camí de la Colònia, a road that runs through the woods with many curves and that goes up towards the mountain. Once at the top of this path we turn left in search of the hermitage.

Routes that start from there

The Pare Pere hermitage is the starting point of the most popular hiking routes on the Montgó.

Route to the top of Montgó

This is one of the ways to reach the summit (there are two more, from the shooting range and from Jesús Pobre). Here you can download the Wikiloc track for this route.

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Routes to Cova de l'Aigua, Racó del Bou and Cova del Gamell

Visit some of the Montgó caves starting from Pare Pere. Download here the track for this route.

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History of Pare Pere

Fray Pere Esteve was born in Dénia in 1583, and has great devotion. He lived many years of his life in his hut, next to what is now the hermitage, devoted to retreat, meditation and prayer. He died in 1658 in a house in the Loreto street which has a commemorative plaque of that fact (in the section between Forn d'Algarra and Bretxa streets).

He is credited with the beginning of the festivities in honor of the Holy Blood, patron saint of Dénia: they say that in 1633 there was a cholera epidemic in Dénia, and that Pare Pere had the image of the Sang Santíssima, and bless some loaves that the sick later ate. According to tradition, they were healed.

Construction and characteristics of the hermitage

According to recent studies by local historians, the house was built long before the time of Pare Pere, but he used it to protect himself from bad weather. Currently this house, built in stone and with a gabled roof, serves as a place for prayer and has become a corner where many faithful light candles and ask for their loved ones.

The hermitage is very recent: it was completed in 1975 and opened to the public in 1983. Since that year the hermitage has been guarded by the Franciscan Enrique Oltra Perales, vice postulator of the cause of beatification of Pare Pere. It is dedicated to the Most Holy Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Between 1984 and 1991 the temple was decorated with passages from the life of the friar and some passages from the life of Jesus Christ, all of them painted in ceramic by Antonio Bordonau, from Onda (Castellón). During those years the Calvary is also built. The Pare Pere hermitage has a Way of the cross outside, among pines and vegetation.

Mass schedule

Although the chapel and its exterior can be visited daily Masses are held only on Sundays at 12: 30 noon.

Curiosities

Pare Pere's body starred in a tense episode during the Civil War: it was verified whether his remains were human or a wood carving was being venerated. Here you have the full story.

In addition to this hermitage in his honor, Pare Pere has a street dedicated to him in the center of Dénia.

Photos

Comments
  1. Nin Gallo says:

    unfortunately the park was closed because of the groups of young people who met there to consume drugs and do lewd acts in that place.
    Fray Enrrique Oltra told me this directly.

  2. BUSTOS ANA MARIA PUIG says:

    Good morning, I have understood that I am a descendant of Pare PERE I would love to know the story, thank you very much

  3. MARCEL, F, S says:

    Hello, I DENIA PHOTOS HERE IF ASKED nesecitan

    Ermita del Pare Pere has a rich history, a beautiful HERMITAGE


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