Castell de Vilafamés

Castell de Vilafamés crowns a rocky hill above Vilafamés, one of the villages listed among Spain's "Most Beautiful Towns." Visible from every corner of the old town, it has watched over this corner of the Valencian Community for centuries.

How do you get to the castle?

Vilafamés sits roughly 20 minutes by car inland from Castellón de la Plana, tucked among the hills that separate the coast from the Maestrazgo interior. The castle occupies the highest point of the village, so reaching it means going on foot — up the narrow, cobbled lanes of the old quarter, which are worth the walk in their own right. The climb takes about fifteen minutes and winds through a maze of stone houses, arches and stairways typical of medieval Valencian architecture.

What will you see there?

The fortress traces its origins to the Andalusi period — historical documents referred to the settlement and its stronghold as "Beni-Hamez." In 1233, Jaime I the Conqueror took the area, folding it into the Crown of Aragon. The oldest surviving sections of the walls, however, date to the 14th century, when the master of the Order of Montesa ordered local residents to repair and reinforce the fortifications. The stronghold later passed through the hands of the Knights Templar before becoming part of the Maestrazgo de Montesa.

The castle's current appearance, though, owes far more to a much later chapter — the Carlist Wars of the 19th century. It was then that the distinctive circular central tower went up, one of the few surviving examples of Carlist-era military architecture anywhere in the Valencian Community. Visitors today can walk an almost complete perimeter of defensive walls and see the remains of palace-style quarters facing the round keep, the Torre del Homenaje. The castle is registered as a Bien de Interés Cultural under the Monument category, Spain's highest level of heritage protection.

From the walls, the view stretches over Vilafamés's rooftops, an olive-covered valley and a line of mountains beyond — one of the most photographed vantage points in the region.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons, since temperatures inland from Castellón run milder than in summer, and the morning and late-afternoon light flatters the stone walls. In summer, aim for early morning or late afternoon to skip the midday heat. Vilafamés has also drawn artists for decades and is known today for its contemporary art galleries, making a stroll through its streets worthwhile before or after the climb to the castle.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the castle grounds? The exterior and the walls can be viewed for free while walking through the old town — this is how most visitors experience the site.

How long does a visit take? Walking up and around the walls takes about 30–45 minutes, though it's worth setting aside extra time to explore Vilafamés itself, one of the region's prettiest towns.

Is the castle accessible for visitors with limited mobility? Because of the steep, cobbled streets of the old quarter and the hilltop location, reaching the castle can be difficult for visitors with reduced mobility.

Where does the castle's name come from? It dates back to the Andalusi era — historical records list the settlement as "Beni-Hamez" before Jaime I took the area in 1233.