
Ermita de Santa Lucia
Spain, europe
3.7 km
312 m
hard
Year-round
# Ermita de Santa Lucia: A Brutal Climb in Castelló
Ready for a serious adrenaline rush? Head to Castelló in Spain's northern Valencian Community to tackle this beast of a climb. This 3.7km route winds up to the small Ermita de Santa Lucia church, sitting pretty at 312 meters (1,023 feet) above sea level in the Sierra de Irta mountain range.
Here's the deal: this road is *no joke*. The asphalt is legit, but it's narrow and relentlessly steep. Sure, the average gradient hangs around 8.58%, but don't let that fool you—there are sections that'll make your palms sweat, with grades hitting 14-20%. The steepest? A jaw-dropping 25%. You'll understand why this route has earned its reputation as seriously brutal.
The road isn't just a local favorite either. This climb has been featured in Spain's prestigious Vuelta bicycle race, so you know you're tackling something genuinely challenging. The scenery through the Sierra de Irta is stunning, though you might be too focused on conquering those hairpins to fully appreciate it.
If you're hunting for an intense drive that'll test your skills and your car's brakes, this is your spot.
Where is it?
Ermita de Santa Lucia is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 40.6281, -4.4872
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 3.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 312 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.6281, -4.4872
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