Culla, return to the Middle Ages in the Alto Maestrazgo de Castellón

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Culla in Alto Maestrazgo de Castellón

I keep surprising myself with the beautiful little-known corners that you can discover in the travel inside of the Spanish geography.

And I mean not onlyrural tourism getaways, during a weekend or a bridge, but also to excursions that you can do from the place of stay on a vacation on the coast.

The latter is the case of what can happen with the place to which I now refer.

Culla in Alto Maestrazgo de Castellón

Specifically I mean the people of Blame, which I had the chance to discover during atrip through the High Maestrazgo of Castellón.

It is a small medieval village located on top of a hill, not far from the coast, just 70 kilometers from Benicasim,

I already tell you that in your walk through the historic center of Culla you can say that you are really going to feel moved to the Middle Ages.

Culla's Story

You should know that the Maestrazgo, inside the province of Castellón, is an area with human presence for thousands of years, since the Prehistory, which is confirmed by the numerous archaeological remains and even by cave paintings.

Culla in Alto Maestrazgo de Castellón

But the current configuration of Blame, as in other villages in this area, dates back to the Muslim era, when there was a fortress that was conquered in 1243 by Jaime I.

The Culla enclave was bought by the Templars in 1303, but it soon passes to the Order of Santa María de Montesa.

Around that time, the Culla Castle It became of great strategic importance.

It is in the eighteenth century when the urban area of Blame, including construction in 1712 of the current church of San Salvador on the structure of an old gothic church.

Finally, during Carlist WarsIn the 19th century, the castle was almost totally destroyed.

However, from the tourist point of view there is a key date, the year 1994.

Church of San Salvador in Culla in Alto Maestrazgo de Castellón

It is at that time when a profound process of rehabilitation of the old historical center, bringing to light the stones of the facades of the houses, removing cables, and pedestrianizing its alleyways.

In short, giving luster to the people.

Now this small town of only about 200 inhabitants, which extends along a hill of 1,100 meters high, has two distinct areas that you can distinguish as you approach the road.

On the one hand, the historic helmet on top of the town, whose houses show off their original stone facades, and on the other hand, the lower part of the town, which you will distinguish by whitewashed houses.

This configuration change will surprise you by seeing some old photo of Blame in which you will verify that until the remodeling all their houses were whitewashed, and there were no visible stone houses, as at present.

Culla in Alto Maestrazgo de Castellón

What to see in Culla

your walk through the medieval town of Culla you start it in the Setenal Square up a narrow street, and from there you will get lost in a maze of alleys, passages and stairs.

As you enter it, you will not be surprised to see that its monumental complex has been in the past one of the headquarters of the sacred art exhibition Pulchra Magistri of the Maestrazgo.

The first prominent building you will see is the church of San Salvador, which houses a beautiful 14th-century Gothic-style figure representing that saint, Culla pattern, as well as a 16th century altarpiece.

Next to it are other historic buildings, such as the Abbey House, the old prison and the old hospital, the latter referred to a place of lodging and not healing.

Strolling through the narrow streets you will surely pass under one of the three arches that remain from the old town wall.

Arch of the old wall of Culla in Alto Maestrazgo de Castellón

And on the way to the remains of the old Arab fortress, you will see the Calvary, a curious place where the Via Crucis in Easter.

There you will find yourself in the viewpoint of Singlet, from where if you look to the southeast, you discover the Hermitage of San Cristobal, from the 18th century, one of the three hermitages that are located in different hills near the town.

Next to the remaining section of the walled enclosure there is another viewpoint from where you can see in the distance, towards the north, the Hermitage of San Roc, from the 16th century.

In short, a very pleasant walk during which it is very easy to have the feeling that you are in the time of the Templars, and in which you can also enjoy excellent panoramic views of this High Maestrazgo region.

Hermitage of San Cristobal from Culla in Castellón

Photos of Culla

As an invitation to make your own visit, here are more photos of Culla, in the province of Castellón.





How to get to Culla in Castellón

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