La Mata de Morella – Holiday Apartment Between Culture and Nature

La Mata de Morella can be discovered through unusually tangible traces: in the historic centre stands La Nevera, built at the beginning of the 17th century and remodelled in the 18th century. After careful restoration, it now houses an ethnological museum about Espardenya. Collected snow was stored in a large shaft; to maintain the temperature, thick layers of snow alternated with layers of straw.

When choosing a holiday apartment in La Mata de Morella, compare the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective offer pages; these three fields can be checked independently of the local sightseeing and hiking routes.

Culture and history

El Horno y el Mercado de la Lana initially served as a wool market and later as a communal bakery. The former communal bakery continues to serve as a meeting place; the Mesón del Forn restaurant is located there. The Palacio del Ayuntamiento is an example of 16th-century Aragonese secular architecture and bears an inscription with the year 1564. Its former prison is located in the basement.

The oldest parts of the Iglesia Parroquial Nuestra Señora de las Nieves—including the apse, sacristy, two side chapels, triumphal arch and bell tower—date from the late 16th century; newer sections were added from 1862 onwards. The Casa Palacio de los Pedro y La Figuera has a dressed-stone façade topped by a small wooden roof overhang and an arcade gallery typical of Aragonese secular architecture. As a palatial manor house, it dates from the late 16th or early 17th century. La Mata was under the jurisdiction of Morella and belonged to the Pedro and La Figuera families.

The Ermitas de Santa Barbara date from the 17th century and, together with an adjoining two-storey building, form an architectural ensemble. The Ermita de San Gil was built in 1786 and, after restoration, was prepared for worship once again. The Torre del Molí de la Punta is recognised as a monument of the Valencian Community. La Mata also preserves two Gothic peirons dating from the 14th century. The narrow, history-filled streets form part of the town’s historic and visitor-oriented heritage. Replicas can be seen at the original locations: the Peiró de les Canals at the entrance to the town from the direction of Olocau, and the Peiró de Sant Gil on the road from the direction of Forcall.

Landscape and trails

La Mata de Morella lies at an altitude of more than 820 metres and is surrounded by the Cantavieja and La Cuba rivers. The natural area includes vegetation, fauna, rivers, as well as trails and PR and GR routes of varying difficulty. Les Calderetes are natural pools shaped by the river near La Mata de Morella.

The PR-CV 229 La Mata circular route is 8.40 kilometres long, showcases examples of dry-stone architecture, crosses the Cantavieja River twice and passes by Mas de les Clapisses. The route is connected to the L'Alt Maestrat LIC area and the L'Alt Maestrat, Tinença de Benifassà, Turmell i Vallibana ZEPA area. The PR-CV 247 leads to the Carrasca de Guaita, a distinctive tree and viewpoint overlooking La Mata de Morella.

The Carrasqueta de la Guaita is a centuries-old tree on the summit of Tossal hill. The GR 331 E04 hiking route runs through the Cantavieja River valley between traditional terraces and dry-stone walls, passing historic buildings such as the Torre Guillermo.

More local pages: Castelló De Rugat, Gestalgar, Mogente, Chella, Rótova, Mislata, Torre Baja and El Palomar.

Traditions and crafts

San Antonio is celebrated in La Mata on the third weekend of January. The festivities include lighting a bonfire, blessing animals, evening events, a wine-cellar tour and communal meals by the fire.

La festa de l’Onso is an annual tradition symbolising the end of winter and the beginning of spring. During the event, a person dressed in animal skins and representing a bear is symbolically hunted in the forest and brought to the village; they then walk through the town together with residents and visitors.

The “Paisatges Medievals” experience includes visits to saffron fields in La Mata de Morella, lasts approximately four hours and must be booked in advance. The La Mata honey workshop explains how honey is produced, presents local varieties and offers tastings and workshops. At La Mata’s Espardenyeria, visitors can learn about the footwear made locally and the production process.

To the main travel overview: Valencia.