Vallibona

Perching on the high lands of Els Ports county in the province of Castellón, Vallibona is a pretty village that emanates Medieval charm. Narrow and labyrinthian streets hint to the municipality’s Muslim origin, leading you deep into a world of wonder. 

What to see in Vallibona

The meaning of Vallibona can be interpreted in two ways. It is commonly believed to mean “good valley” due to its beautiful location, but it can also be understood to mean “valley of the tarns”. Tarns are small mountain lakes originating from glaciers; Vallibona sits close to various pools and ponds, as well as the banks of the river Cérvol.

The village’s historic centre will fill your culture cup. As you wander around, you will come across a structure that stands out from the rest: the Mudejar bell tower. This construction is one of the three defence towers that used to guard the village.

The town hall, for its part, is considered to be of architectural interest and, on its ground floor, it houses the old medieval prison. Although the bolts on the doors of the three cells have been preserved, the prison has been restored and is now home to the Centro de Interpretación del Carboneo, the Charcoal-Making Interpretation Centre. This is because the production of charcoal was, until relatively recently, central to Vallibona’s economy. 

In Vallibona, there’s also plenty of room for religious heritage, with several places of worship to discover, such as the Parish Church of Asunción de María, which has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest and has a Baroque interior; the Romanesque Chapel of Santa Águeda, which sits up in the mountains; and the Santo Domingo Hermitage. Tucked away among the streets, the real gem is the church porch, which has a charm all of its own and feels almost like a tunnel, with its wooden ceiling and two entrances leading into the church precinct. 

And if that’s not enough, the wilderness enveloping Vallibona is of outstanding beauty. Situated on the outskirts of Tinença de Benifassà natural park, the village is the starting point to a number of hiking routes that will lead you deep into the scenery. And that’s not all. Microrreserva Cresta de Turmell is located between Vallibona and Xert, a landscape populated with craggy rocks, limestone formations, black pine forests and oak woodland. 

Vallibona’s historic charm has survived to this day, spiriting you back to Medieval times as soon as you step foot in the village. Come for a visit to soak it all up.