The Ullal de l’Estany is one of the freshwater springs that feed the Marjal de Gandia wetland. An accessible wooden boardwalk circles it beside the Aula Natura and links it to the neighbouring Ullal de la Perla on a short, flat walk surrounded by waterbirds.
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Also known as the Ullal Gran, the spot lies at the foot of the Castell de Bairén, next to the Alqueria del Duc, at the northern end of the wetland.
What an ullal is and where its water comes from
On the Valencian coast, an ullal is a spot where groundwater rises to the surface and forms a small freshwater pool. Ullals are typical of coastal wetlands and provide a refuge for birds, fish, insects, crustaceans and aquatic plants, some of them endangered.
The water in the Ullal de l’Estany and the Ullal de la Perla comes from rain that seeps into the Mondúver massif and travels underground until it wells up on the plain. Neither pool is more than three metres deep, and both hold water all year round, even in years of severe drought. Together with the irrigation channels, the ravines and the rain, the water from the ullals supplies the whole wetland.
The area is listed in the Catalogue of Wetlands of the Valencian Community and forms part of the Natura 2000 network, within the Mondúver-Marjal de la Safor Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds.
The walk along the wooden boardwalk
From the Aula Natura, a wooden path skirts the Ullal de l’Estany and continues to the Ullal de la Perla. The walk takes about 20 to 30 minutes and the boardwalk is adapted for wheelchairs.
Along the way you will find a small riverside wood and the typical marsh vegetation of the wetland, with senill (common reed) and bova (bulrush) along the banks. Next to the centre there is a picnic area with a drinking-water fountain, handy if you want to make a morning of it.
Birds you can see at the ullal
The ullal is well known among birdwatchers, especially in spring, winter and during the migrations. With a little patience and a pair of binoculars, you can spot species such as:
- Waterbirds: mallard, Eurasian coot, common moorhen, little grebe and little egret.
- Songbirds and other birds of the area: Cetti’s warbler, blackcap, European goldfinch, hoopoe and common kestrel.
Stay on the boardwalk and keep noise down so as not to disturb the wildlife.
The Aula Natura and the Alqueria del Duc
The Aula Natura is the wetland’s environmental interpretation centre. It occupies a 312 m² building designed in the style of the area’s rural houses and hosts a permanent exhibition on the ecosystem and culture of the wetland, with interactive games for children and original ethnographic objects.
Opposite, surrounded by orange trees, stands the Alqueria del Duc, a square fortified farmhouse linked to the Borgias that adds a touch of history to the visit. Above the site are the ruins of the Castell de Bairén, the old fortress that once watched over the plain.
Fancy a longer walk? The circular route through the wetland
For a longer outing there is the circular route «entre Senill i Borró», which starts at the Alqueria del Duc and winds through orchards, small pools and old earth banks between Gandia and Xeresa.
- Distance: almost 10 kilometres in total, on flat country tracks, partly dirt and partly tarmac.
- Difficulty: easy, suitable for children.
- Points of interest: the Ullal Fosc, the Muntanyeta de la Creueta and its ullal, the Marjal dels Borrons and the Ullal de Trénor.
- Variant: a detour reaches the dunes of l’Ahuir beach.
Another option is the hiking route via the Ermita de Santa Anna and the Marjal, which combines the views from the hermitage with a walk through the wetland.
Getting there and practical information
- Address: Camí de l’Alqueria del Duc s/n, Gandia.
- Access: by car, by bike or on foot along the Camí de l’Alqueria del Duc; there is parking next to the site.
- Aula Natura: Thursday to Sunday, 9 am to 2 pm; admission €2, or €1 reduced. Groups visit by prior booking.
- Contact: phone +34 962 84 04 23 and email medinatural@gandia.org.
Before you go, check opening hours and prices on the official Aula Natura page on the Gandia tourism website (in Spanish) or find the location on Google Maps.