Discover Montesa: Castle, Museum and Nature

The castle-monastery makes Montesa the main town and spiritual centre of an order. Its history shapes the town just as much as the rocky landscape. In Montesa, different points of interest can be considered side by side: the castle and church architecture, the museum and old town, as well as La Mola and the Barranc de la Fosch.

Culture and History

Montesa Castle can be visited on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and offers guided tours. The Museu Parroquial de Montesa has been recognised by the Generalitat Valenciana for more than 30 years as a permanent museographic collection. Anyone wishing to visit the museum must arrange the visit through the Montesa Tourist Office. The opening of the castle and the necessary arrangement for the museum are two separate aspects of cultural planning.

On the ground floor, the Museu Parroquial mainly displays architectural elements from the castle. An altarpiece dedicated to Saint Sebastian was created by Gaspar Requena in 1559 and comes from the San Sebastián hermitage. An organ made by Martín Usarralde in 1744 was restored in 2001. The foundation stone for the new church building was laid on 19 February 1693; construction work was completed in 1702. Together with the castle-monastery, this creates a historical arc connecting architectural history, religious art and preserved furnishings.

Nature and Trails

La Mola is a rocky plateau near the castle, offering views over the entire Montesa valley. Parts of La Mola are used for climbing. The plateau represents rocky landscapes and expansive views, while the castle forms the cultural focal point. Both areas can be classified as clearly separate themes for planning your own day.

The Paraje Natural Municipal Barranc de la Fosch is a protected natural area in Montesa with gorges, Mediterranean vegetation and the Cànyoles River. The Barranc de la Fosch provides a habitat for birds of prey, bats, reptiles, European pond turtles and the amphibian gallipato. There are signposted paths in the Paraje Natural Municipal Barranc de la Fosch. Anyone exploring the area encounters a different landscape theme from that of the rocky plateau of La Mola: here, gorges, river and vegetation stand alongside the observable diversity of the animal groups mentioned there.

Old Town and Traditions

A walk through the streets of Montesa’s old town can begin at Plaza de la Vila. Since then, the traditional Hoguera de Sant Sebastià has been lit in Montesa every year on the Saturday closest to 20 January. The old town and this recurring tradition complement the historic sites with a local custom held on a precisely defined date.

Other Places

Other places for planning your own trip include Albaida, La Pobla Del Duc, Calles, Manises, Camp de Túria, Burjassot, Teresa De Cofrentes and Quartell.

For the higher-level travel overview: Valencia.