| El Puig | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
| El Puig with its two wooded hills and the monastery in the centre | |||
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| location of El Puig in Horta Nord. | |||
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El Puig
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Valencian Community | ||
| Province | Valencia | ||
| Comarca | Horta Nord | ||
| Judicial district | Massamagrell | ||
| Government | |||
| • Alcalde | José Miguel Tolosa Peiró (PP) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 26.8 km2 (10.3 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 50 m (164 ft) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 8.893 | ||
| • Density | 0.3/km2 (0.9/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym | Pugenc, pugenca | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 46540 | ||
| Official language(s) | Valencian | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
El Puig (Valencian pronunciation: [eɫ ˈputʃ]), also known as El Puig de Santa Maria, is a village situated 15 km north of the city of Valencia, in the comarca of Horta Nord, Spain. Taking its name from the old Valencian term for "hill", the area comprises three main areas, starting with the village which is dominated by the monastery and the two large wooded hills, the largest of which has the ruins of a castle fortress at the top. Originally, however, there was another hill named La Pedrera which disappeared gradually during the 20th century to make way for the V-21 motorway with the rock being used to construct one of the jetties at Valencia's port. The second section is the coastal area of 4 km of beach made up of 8 urbanisations which in general are only inhabited in the summer and finally an industrial area located between them.
The village is well connected, with direct access to the V-21 Valencia to Barcelona motorway and a short distance away from the A-7 Valencia bypass. There is also the RENFE C-6 Valencia to Castellón de la Plana local train service from the village every half hour, and an hourly bus service to Valencia via El Puig beach.
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Until very recently the economy has basically been agriculture, however it is in a state of gradual transformation towards an industrial plan, which is fundamentally based on the metal industry. The types of agriculture in El Puig include cattle, poultry, pig farming, corn and other crops but by far the main economic income is through the cultivation and export of oranges. The industrial sector has a number of sheet metal factories, food processing plants, wood product manufacturers, a beer and ionized water manufacturer and many other trade sector related activities. The fishing industry has disappeared but its beaches are now very much in demand in the summer with its residential urbanisations.
There are two areas indicated for future housing development in El Puig; the first is located to the north of the village, where there are plans for approximately 1,200 homes, that have started to be built, and is the location of a new secondary school that has been constructed. The second is near the coastal area close to the beaches, where 6255 houses and apartments are planned to be built around a golf course; planning permission was finally granted in 2009 however construction has yet to start.
It is thought El Puig has been inhabited since pre-historic times, but the first recorded record is of a Muslim fortress situated on the montaña la pata (foot mountain). El Puig was conquered by El Cid in 1093 on the way to his conquest of Valencia, however it was retaken by the muslims again briefly afterwards.
El Puig became a symbolic location for Valencians when it was conquered for good by James I of Aragon in 1237. The reason the largest hill was named montaña la pata (foot mountain) was, as the legend goes, that when James I of Aragon reached the summit with his horse they saw the city of Valencia in the distance, the horse then reared up on to its two back legs with excitement and brought its two front feet down with such force that water sprang from the ground and one of its horse shoes became imbedded into the hill. This new civilization, which replaced the Muslim one, is best represented by the Virgin of El Puig, Saint Mary. An image, which according to legend, was seen by James I, and which gave divine powers to the Christian troops in the famous battle that allowed the taking of Valencia, which is why James I of Aragon proclaimed it the patron of the newly conquered Kingdom of Valencia, during this time El Puig was known as the spiritual capital of the kingdom.
In 1240 the El Puig was donated to Arnau de Cardona. However in 1340 Peter IV of Aragon gave it to Pedro de Jérica, and then in 1353 to Nicolau Janvila. Finally in 1385 the king sold El Puig to Pedro de Centelles. El Puig was separated from Puebla de Farnals in 1608 and the last territorial lords were the Marquess of Belgium and the Municipality of Valencia.
January - Last weekend in January is the festival of Peter Nolasco, the founder of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy .
February - The second Sunday of February is the festival of Saint Anthony the patron of animals.
March - The fire festival "Las Fallas" is celebrated from the 14th to the 19th of March.
June - On the evening of the 23rd of June are the fires of Saint Joan where, on the beaches, bonfires and firework displays are held.
August - The San Roque Festival is held between the 15th and the 17th of August but in reality is celebrated for the whole of the month. The celebrations mainly consist of street parties followed by bull runs in the streets of the village.
September - On the first Sunday and Monday of the month of September the people of El Puig celebrate the festival of the Virgin which comprises street prosessions of the virgin of Puig.
October - The Community of Valencia day is held on the 9th of October.
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