Palm Grove of Elche
Elche, Spain
Europe’s largest palm grove, planted in Moorish times and a World Heritage Site. The Huerto del Cura garden holds the many-armed Imperial Palm.
The Palmeral of Elche, the palm groves around the city, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. According to UNESCO, the irrigated grove was laid out with the founding of the Muslim city towards the end of the 10th century; date palms had grown here earlier. Figures for the number of palms vary widely by source. One of the roughly 100 surviving gardens (huertos) is the Huerto del Cura, which Spain.info says has almost 500 palms.
This is where the Imperial Palm grows, a botanical rarity with seven arms springing from the same trunk at a height of about two metres. It was named after a visit by Empress Sisi in 1884; the chaplain José Castaño gave it the name. The garden is at Calle Porta de la Morera 49. The Basilica of Santa María and the Altamira Palace are within about 1 km. Ask the garden directly for opening times and admission.
- Nearest town
- Elche, Spain
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 38.2666, -0.6884
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, June, September and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Spain: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Many former toll motorways are now free; some AP roads still charge. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
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- La Fabrica DoloresMotorhome stopover17 km from Palm Grove of ElcheMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Ecoparking CaravanMotorhome stopover19 km from Palm Grove of ElcheMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Spain · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Palm Grove of Elche?
Palm Grove of Elche is in Elche, Spain, at GPS 38.2666, -0.6884. It is about 44 km from Villena.
Can you camp near Palm Grove of Elche?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Hort de Montenegro, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 26 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Palm Grove of Elche?
Palm Grove of Elche is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Valencia to Cartagena: Costa Blanca and Murcia.
What is there to see near Palm Grove of Elche?
Places worth a stop nearby: Guadalest (63 km), Calblanque (74 km), Peñón de Ifach (78 km) and Roman theatre of Cartagena (79 km).
When is the best time to visit Palm Grove of Elche?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, June, September and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)