The riuraus are constructions that appeared in Valencian lands in the 18th century. They are linked to the period of the rise of the raisin, which was in the 19th century, a time of prosperous economy. This construction is an essential element in the process of making raisins. Its function was to protect the reeds, where the grapes were spread out to dry, when rain or night dew began to wet the grapes and rot.
These buildings are generally made of stone, with a roof, which is covered, inside with reeds that are left in the air, and outside covered by the traditional clay tiles. The riuraus on one side are usually 3 or 4 meters deep, from the mouth to the wall, the length is marked by the so-called “ulls”, in the form of an arch – of half a point or lowered panels -, but there are also rectangular ones. The arches or “ulls” usually have 4 meters and we can find riuraus of an arch, called “riurauet” until fourteen, called these, “els grans riuraus”.
It is in the region of the Marina Alta where they are concentrated greater number of these and where they can be found of different types and categories. There are riuraus attached to the house, riuraus exempt and some juxtaposed to the house called “cases porticades”.
Photos: Rutas dels Riuraus
