Castillo de la Orden de Calatrava de Bejís

Castillo de la Orden de Calatrava, standing above the town of Bejís, is one of the defining historic landmarks of the Alto Palancia region in Castellón province.

How old is the castle at Bejís?

Archaeological finds on the hill show the site was occupied well before the medieval fortress was built: Iberian and Roman pottery fragments, along with coins from the Imperial period, have been recovered here. The original stronghold likely rose on Roman foundations and was reshaped repeatedly by both Muslim and Christian rulers as military needs changed over the centuries. That layered history is typical of many inland Valencian strongholds, where successive rulers reused the same strategically placed hilltops.

When did the Order of Calatrava take control?

Bejís was taken from Muslim rule in 1228 by Pedro Fernández de Azagra, acting on behalf of King James I of Aragon. Twelve years later, in 1240, the king granted the lordship to the military Order of Calatrava, which held it until 1523, when the territory reverted to the Crown. The order's coat of arms is still carved into one of the stones among the ruins, a lasting trace of nearly three centuries of Calatravan rule.

What was the castle's role under the Order?

Under Calatrava, Bejís became the head of a commandery (encomienda) with voting rights in the Courts of Valencia, reflecting its administrative weight within the regional feudal structure. In 1276, the commander of Alcañiz issued a settlement charter (carta puebla) for the town, setting out the terms under which the community would live and grow under the order's authority. Thanks to this, Bejís developed into an organized administrative center rather than remaining a purely defensive outpost.

What happened at the castle during the Carlist Wars?

The fortress saw renewed military use in the 19th century. During the First Carlist War, supporters of the Carlist pretender fortified themselves within its walls and held out until 22 May 1840, when liberal troops under General Azpirez finally dislodged them after two sieges and fierce fighting. This episode is one of the last documented moments of the fortress's military relevance.

Where is Bejís and what does the castle look like today?

Bejís sits in the Alto Palancia comarca, a mountainous inland district of Castellón province bordering Aragon. The castle ruins crown a hill overlooking the village, commanding views across the surrounding valley and mountain ranges — a textbook example of a medieval border fortress built to watch over inland routes rather than to guard the coast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors access the castle ruins? The ruins can be visited, though the structure survives only in fragmentary form; it is worth checking current access details locally before planning a visit.

Why is it called the "Castle of the Order of Calatrava"? The name comes from the military Order of Calatrava, which ruled the lordship of Bejís from 1240 to 1523 — the period when the fortress rose to prominence as the seat of a commandery with a vote in the Courts of Valencia.

Is there evidence of settlement before the medieval castle? Yes. Iberian and Roman ceramics and Imperial-era coins found on the site point to occupation of the hill long before the current ruins were built.

What is the castle's best-known historical episode? Its defense by Carlist forces during the First Carlist War, ending in their defeat by liberal troops on 22 May 1840 after two sieges, is the most documented event in the fortress's later history.