Vilavella Castle

Vilavella Castle stands above the small town of la Vilavella in the province of Castellón, crowning the San Sebastián hill with views over the surrounding plains and the Serra d'Espadà mountain range. It is one of the few places in the region where visitors can trace the very origin of nearby Nules, since this hilltop fortress is where that town's history actually begins.

Where did the fortress come from?

The castle dates back to the 10th century, built during the Muslim period and originally known as Castillo de Nules. From here it controlled a number of surrounding settlements, several of which gradually grew into independent towns of their own. In 1238, the fortress was taken by James I of Aragon during the conquest of Valencia. The king granted it in 1251 to Guillem de Montcada, and after that lineage died out in 1314 the estate passed to the Centelles family.

Why is the town called "the Old Village"?

During the 14th century, part of the population began leaving the settlement clustered around the castle to found a new one, Vila Nova, which grew into present-day Nules. The old settlement by the fortress remained, inhabited mainly by Moriscos, until their expulsion from Spain in 1609. Two years later, in 1611, twenty-nine Christian families resettled the site — and from then on it has existed as its own municipality, la Vilavella, literally "the Old Village," as opposed to the "New Village" that became Nules.

What survives of the castle today?

What remains today are sections of the defensive walls and the lower portions of several towers. An Arab cistern has also survived, along with a tiled floor made of Manises ceramic tiles marking the spot of the former Chapel of San Jaime, dated to the 15th century. The whole complex now stands in ruins, but the layout still lets visitors read the outline of the old fortress, from its wall lines to the remains of its water storage.

What is it like to visit?

The San Sebastián hill is a popular walking destination for residents of la Vilavella and nearby towns. The climb to the top passes through landscape typical of Castellón's Mediterranean interior, with orange groves stretching below — a crop that has long shaped the economy of this part of the Comunitat Valenciana. Modest compared to some of the better-preserved fortresses in the province, the ruins are valued above all for the panoramic view and for being a tangible link to the medieval history of these lands under Muslim rule.

A visit pairs naturally with a trip to Nules itself, whose population moved down from the hilltop fortress toward the coast, and with the many other castles scattered across the hills of Castellón province — remnants of a landscape that for centuries sat on a shifting frontier during the medieval period.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Vilavella Castle built? The fortress dates to the 10th century, built during the period of Muslim rule and originally known as Castillo de Nules.

Why is it called "Vilavella" if it's linked to Nules? It is the same historical site: when residents moved to a new settlement (Vila Nova, today's Nules) in the 14th century, the old settlement around the castle kept the name Vila Vella, "the Old Village" — today the separate municipality of la Vilavella.

What has survived from the original fortress? Sections of the defensive walls, the lower parts of several towers, an Arab cistern, and a tiled floor made of Manises ceramics marking the site of the 15th-century Chapel of San Jaime.

Is it worth climbing up to the castle hill? Yes — beyond its historical value, the San Sebastián hill offers panoramic views over the surrounding plains, orange groves, and the Serra d'Espadà range.