Discover Artana: Hiking, History and Regional Cuisine

Artana is one of the municipalities in the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park. Les Penyes Aragoneses, also locally known as Penyes Altes, are large Ródeno formations in the heart of the Sierra Espadán and five kilometres from the municipality of Artana.

When comparing holiday apartments in Artana, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective listing pages. These three details provide a clear personal basis for comparison without reducing the choice of location to a single criterion.

Nature and Trails

Artana has more than fifteen routes with varying levels of difficulty, suitable for both mountain hikers and families. Rebó y La Solana runs from the entrance to Artana to the Ermita Santa Cristina via the La Solana spring and is an approximately seven-kilometre out-and-back route for all types of hikers.

The Les Mines de la Font de Ferro route is 9.22 kilometres long in total and includes three main openings of the iron mines. Iron was mined in Les Mines de la Font de Ferro more than fifty years ago. La Cova del Tronc offers views of La Plana; beyond the first passable gallery, rope protection is required. Different route lengths, difficulty levels and activity types provide objective points of comparison for planning your own day.

Culture and History

The ruins of Castillo de Artana are considered an Islamic fortress with Roman origins and medieval alterations. Artana’s old town is considered the oldest part of the settlement and includes narrow streets of Muslim origin, numerous tiled religious panels and various Modernist and vernacular façades.

From the Pardinal quarter, the oldest part of the town, a Via Crucis with its stations leads to the Ermita del Cristo del Calvario. The Ermita Santa Cristina was built in the 18th century in the Doric style and is dedicated to Santa Cristina, the patron saint of Artana. It is located two kilometres from Artana in a valley characterised by cypresses, pine trees and olive trees, beside the Rambla.

The parish church of Artana was built at the end of the 19th century on the site of an earlier temple; the original medieval mosque very likely stood there. The parish museum contains a Muslim tombstone bearing the inscription: “This stone was erected by the brave Alí Zobei. God is Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.” The church houses one of the outstanding paintings by the painter Bernardo Mondina Milallave, who came from Castellón: “Degollación de San Juan Bautista” from 1862.

Other Places

Almenara, La Pobla De Benifassà, Jérica, Vilafamés, Morella, Sarratella, Moncófar, Cabanes

Cuisine

Cassoleta is a typical dish from Artana made with potatoes, lamb, red pepper and pine nuts. Les orelletes are fried pastries typical of Artana, made with eggs, anise, extra virgin olive oil and wheat flour; they are often served with honey. L’Olla de dijuni is a fasting dish made with field vegetables, including chard, as well as chickpeas.

For the higher-level travel overview: Castellon.