Route description
The old Val de Zafán railway line
In 1882, work began on the Val de Zafán railway line, which would link La Puebla de Híjar with Tortosa; this was to be the fulfilment of the historic wish to connect Bajo Aragón with the sea. But the works on this line suffered many problems from the outset. In 1936, the civil war broke out. The purpose of this line changed according to the needs of the combatants and the railway route was used as a corridor between Alcañiz and Bot, to supply weapons and soldiers for the Francoist army in the Battle of the Ebro. This circumstance influenced the completion of the works, being the cause of the progress in the construction of the line. Finally, in 1941, the works were completed as far as Tortosa. The route was meant to reach Sant Carles de la Ràpita, but it was never finished. The transport of goods and passengers between the two points began. The train was known as 'El Sarmentero', since its route ran largely through vineyards and landscapes of great beauty. In 1971, a new setback frustrated the continuity of the line: the Prat de Compte tunnel collapsed, forcing the service to be provided by a bus that travelled from Bot station to Tortosa. In 1973, without the tunnel ever being repaired, it was decided to close the line. After the closure of the Sarmentero, the line lay forgotten for years. Until the year 2000, when the Terra Alta greenway section was inaugurated, to which the 'Baix Ebre' section was later added, and in 2005 the works to adapt the greenway in the Matarraña section began. Since then, thousands of visitors have ridden along this route, which has brought value to unique landscapes of great cultural and environmental worth. The Val de Zafán greenway is also a witness to our most recent history. Its recycled infrastructure has enabled the development of sustainable tourism and the creation of jobs in the Matarraña region. We are proud to have one of the 125 greenways that exist in the country and to be part, in a small proportion, of the 2,700 cyclable stretches of greenways that exist in Spain (information from the Greenways of the Spanish Railways Foundation, click here). History of the Val de Zafán railway
The Greenway is a disused railway infrastructure that has been converted into a cycling, hiking and equestrian route. It is a tourist route, signposted, accessible, non-motorised, that runs along the old railway line called Val de Zafán, which linked the municipality of La Puebla de Híjar with Tortosa.
Route difficulty: low.
Route type: paved, signposted and equipped with protective railings (a very safe path).
Distance of the entire route: 137.9 km (it can be done in sections, as the stations are close to one another).
Distances between the old stations
| Old station | Distance |
| Puebla de Hijar | 0 km |
| Samper de Calanda | 6.2 km |
| Puig Moreno | 15.9 km |
| Alcañiz | 15.8 km |
| Valdealgorfa | 14.60 km |
| Valjunquera | 7.9 km |
| Valdeltormo | 5.20 km |
| Torre del Compte | 5.10 km |
| Valderrobres | 8.80 km |
| Cretas | 2.30 km |
| Arnes- Lledó | 6.40 km |
| Horta de Sant Joan | 4.70 km |
| Bot | 6.60 km |
| Prat de Compte | 4.80 km |
| Font Calda Spa | 1.40 km |
| Pinell del Brai | 4.30 km |
| Benifallet | 4.30 km |
| Xerta | 7.90 km |
| Aldover | 5.00 km |
| Roquetes | 6.00 km |
| Tortosa | 3.400 km |
The Val de Zafán Greenway passes through different regions of Aragón and Catalonia: in Teruel it runs through the Bajo Martín, Bajo Aragón and Matarraña; and in the province of Tarragona through the Terra Alta and Baix Ebre.
The stretch through the Matarraña region covers 29.56 km.
The route is pleasant, running among olive groves, almond trees and pine forests along a path of compacted gravel with almost no gradient, with the possibility of reaching Tortosa, and even the Mediterranean Sea, without sharing space with motorised vehicles.
The Matarraña municipalities the Greenway passes through are: Valjunquera, Valdeltormo, Torre del Compte, Valderrobres, Cretas and Lledó, the access points being the old railway stations, located outside the urban centre, some four or more kilometres away, with the option of going along rural paths from the town, or by car to the foot of the Greenway.
All the stations have a parking and rest area. The Torre del Compte station has been refurbished as a four-star hotel, and the one in Cretas as a youth hostel.
The Val de Zafán Greenway has two viaducts: the viaduct over the river Algars between Lledó station and Cretas station, and the viaduct over the river Matarraña between Torre del Compte station and Valdeltormo station.
The only points with drinking water are Torre del Compte station and Cretas.
Information on the greenway from La Puebla de Hijar to Tortosa
'Northern Teruel' section, 18 km between La Puebla de Hijar and Puigmoreno station. More information
'Bajo Aragón' section, not signposted and shared with vehicles, paved on some stretches; it is 30 km between Puigmoreno station and Valdealgorfa station. From Valdealgorfa station to the boundary of Valjunquera it is set up as a Greenway.
'Matarraña' section, 29.6 km between Valjunquera and the Arnes/Lledó station. More information
'Terra Alta' section, 23.4 km between Arnes/Lledó and Pinell de Brai. More information
'Baix Ebre' section, 25 km between Pinell de Brai and Tortosa. More information
In the Matarraña you can find companies offering services for:
– Bicycle rental and transport – shuttling people and bicycles (so you don't have to do the return trip): Matarraña Aventura, Valde Vivo
– Transport and shuttle: Taxi tour Matarraña.
Download the Greenway profile
