Sant Mateu town hall

The town hall of Sant Mateu, a small historic town in the Castellón province's Maestrazgo region, is a Gothic building from the 15th century standing on the town's main square. Locals know it as the "Cort Nova," or New Court — a name that hints at an older building it once replaced.

Why is it called the "Cort Nova"?

The current town hall took over from an earlier seat of government dating to the 13th–14th centuries, known as the "Cort Vella" (Old Court), located on today's Calle La Cort. That older site still holds medieval dungeons open to visitors. Once the council moved into this larger, more prominent building in the early 15th century, the new structure inherited the administrative role it still holds today, while the old one kept its name in local memory.

What is there to see around the building?

The facade shows the plain, stone-built civil Gothic style typical of the Maestrazgo region, with open ground-floor arches characteristic of public buildings from this part of the Valencian Community at the time. Right next to the town hall runs the narrow Carreró dels Jueus, a lane that recalls Sant Mateu's former Jewish quarter. Across from it stands the Palacio Borrull, also called L'Audiència — a 15th-century Gothic palace that now houses the tourist office and the town's municipal history museum. Pairing a visit to the town hall with a stop at this palace makes sense, since the two buildings form a single architectural ensemble at the heart of the old town.

How do you get there?

The town hall sits within Sant Mateu's historic centre, which was declared a Conjunto Histórico — a protected heritage site of regional significance — by the Valencian Community in 2002. Nearly every walking route through the old town passes the square in front of the town hall, since it functions as the natural hub of the urban layout. Sant Mateu lies inland in the Maestrazgo, so driving is the most practical option; the town has no rail connection, and the nearest larger towns are Vinaròs and Morella.

When is the best time to visit?

The stone facade and the narrow streets around the square look their best in the afternoon light, when the sun catches the stonework at an angle that brings out its detail. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons — summers inland in the Maestrazgo can run hot, while winter temperatures in this Mediterranean upland drop noticeably lower than along the coast. The square also hosts local festivities from time to time, so it's worth checking the town's event calendar before planning a trip.

Can you go inside?

The building remains an active seat of local government, so it isn't set up as a visitor attraction on the inside. Visits are generally limited to the facade and the square from the outside. For a fuller sense of the town's history, the neighbouring Palacio Borrull offers the municipal museum instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the "Cort Nova" and the "Cort Vella"? The "Cort Vella" was the original 13th–14th century town hall on Calle La Cort, where medieval dungeons still survive. The "Cort Nova" is the current 15th-century building, which took over the administrative role it still holds.

Can visitors go inside the town hall? It isn't a standard visitor attraction, since the building is still in active administrative use. Visits focus on the facade and the square outside.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Across from the town hall stands the Gothic Palacio Borrull (L'Audiència), home to the tourist office and the town's history museum, while the narrow Carreró dels Jueus runs alongside, a trace of the former Jewish quarter.

How do you get to Sant Mateu? Driving is the easiest option — the town lies inland in the Maestrazgo with no rail link, near Vinaròs and Morella.