Paratge Natural Municipal Palomita

Paratge Natural Municipal Palomita is a protected forest area in the municipality of Vilafranca (Vilafranca del Cid), in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community. It was declared a municipal natural site in 2007 and covers close to 149 hectares. It is one of roughly twenty such protected areas across the Comarques de Castelló, a category created at the initiative of local councils to safeguard ecologically valuable mountain landscapes that fall outside larger regional or national protection schemes.

What grows in the Palomita forest?

The dominant vegetation is black pine forest (Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii), a species typical of the supra-Mediterranean bioclimatic level on calcareous substrate, which finds particularly favourable growing conditions here. The site also protects priority habitats under the EU Habitats Directive: pine forests with an understory of holly, perennial grasslands with the orchid Goodyera repens, and shaded limestone cliffs colonised by lime trees and yew. The variety of bedrock and slope orientation means that several distinct types of mountain vegetation coexist within a relatively small area.

Which animals live here?

Among the mammals, the wild goat (chamois-like ibex) is the most emblematic resident, alongside the badger, weasel and polecat. The reptile and amphibian fauna includes several protected species, among them the common toad and frog, the ocellated lizard, and a locally named "bastard" snake from the colubrid family. Their presence points to well-preserved rocky and woodland habitats within the site.

Why does this forest matter to the people of Vilafranca?

For generations Palomita was a communal mountain, a shared resource from which the town drew timber and other materials — a bond that residents of Vilafranca still feel strongly today. A living reminder of that history is the so-called "Pi del Comunet," a monumental pine tree killed by a lightning strike in 1987, whose remains still stand as a landmark and a memory of the forest's traditional communal use.

How can visitors explore Palomita on foot or on horseback?

Several marked routes cross the area. A circular trail from Masía La Parreta into the Palomita forest runs about 11.4 km and is rated as moderate difficulty. An alternative loop, known as Bosc de Palomita, covers 11.8 km with around 326 m of elevation gain and offers panoramic views over the surrounding mountains. The area is also signposted as an equestrian route (IE-040), making it a popular destination for horseback trips in the Els Ports region.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Paratge Natural Municipal Palomita located? In the municipality of Vilafranca (also known as Vilafranca del Cid), in the northwestern part of Castellón province, in the Els Ports region.

Since when has the area been protected? It received municipal natural site status in 2007.

How large is the protected area? Around 148.58 hectares.

Is there anything to see besides the natural scenery? The remains of the "Pi del Comunet," a symbolic monumental pine struck by lightning in 1987, standing as a testament to the forest's former communal use.