Benicàssim

This article is about the municipality. For the international music festival, see Festival Internacional de Benicàssim. For the railway station, see Benicàssim railway station.

Benicàssim (Valencian: [beniˈkasim]; Spanish: Benicasim [benikaˈsin]); officially Benicasim / Benicàssim)^[2] is a municipality and beach resort located in the province of Castellón, on the Costa del Azahar in Spain. The Desert de les Palmes mountain range further inland shelters the town from the north wind.

Benicàssim Benicàssim (Valencian) Benicasim (Spanish)
Municipality
Benicasim / Benicàssim (official)
Aerial view of Benicàssim
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Benicàssim
Benicàssim Show map of Valencian Community Benicàssim Show map of Spain
Coordinates: 40°03′19″N 0°03′51″E
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Valencian Community
Province	Castellón
Comarca	Plana Alta
Judicial district	Castellón de la Plana
Government
• Alcalde	Francesc Colomer Sánchez (2007) (PSOE)
Area
• Total	36.1 km2 (13.9 sq mi)
Elevation	15 m (49 ft)
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	18,055
• Density	500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Benicense Benicassut/da
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	12560
Official language(s)	Spanish and Valencian
Website	Official website

Benicàssim is located 13 km north of the town of Castellón de la Plana, at the north end of the Valencian Community. The town has a population of 18,991 (2021). Its economy is largely based on tourism; the town is well known for its beaches and its music festivals such as Festival Internacional de Benicàssim (FIB) and the Rototom Sunsplash.

Placename

The placename has an Arabic origin, consisting of a compound name using the characteristic Arabic base feature beni ('sons of'; < beni-Qasim).^[3] The name is derived from the Banu Qasim tribe, a segment of the Kutama Berbers that settled the area during the 8th century Arab conquest of Spain.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Beaches

Benicàssim has 6 kilometers of sandy beaches linked by a promenade. The five beaches in this stretch of coast are named

• Almadrava Beach (Platja de l'Almadrava)
• Heliopolis Beach (Platja Heliòpolis)
• Els Terrers Beach (Platja dels Terrers)
• Tower of Saint Vincent Beach (Platja de la Torre de Sant Vicent)
• Voramar Beach (Platja de Voramar): This beach is famous for its villas along a beach front promenade.^[4]  

Desert of the Palms

Main articles: Desert de les Palmes Mountains and Desert de les Palmes Natural Park

Just inland from Benicàssim lies the Desert of the Palms (Valencian: Desert de les Palmes; Spanish: Desierto de las Palmas). The area is not a literal desert, but a protected natural area and a small mountain range with a maximum elevation of 729 meters (at the peak of Mount Bartolo). The Columbretes Islands are visible from the top of the range on clear days.

Festivals

• Festival Internacional de Benicàssim FIB
• Rototom Sunsplash
• MABE Benicàssim Art Show.^[5]

Green Way

The Via Verda or Vía Verde (Green Way) is a 5.5 km long cycle and walking path along the rugged coast between the resort towns of Benicàssim and Oropesa del Mar (Orpesa).

Gallery

• 
  Sale in Benicassim circa 1824 by Edward Hawke Locker
• 
  Terrers Beach
• 
  Heliópolis Beach
• 
  Torre San Vicente / Sant Vicent Beach
• 
  Terrers Beach
• 
  Ruins of the medieval castle