Els Ports is a territory made up of small villages. That is why, during your visit…
KEEP IN MIND!
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Book your meals in advance
Plan your route in advance and book wherever you wish. You can check all the options on our website.
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Carry some cash with you
Not all the villages in the region have ATMs where you can withdraw money. Do it in advance.
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Before starting your route, get organised and check the opening hours of the different establishments and services.
If some of them, such as churches or museums, are closed, you can watch the videos available on our website to discover their interiors.
THE MEDIEVAL ROUTE
Suggested visiting times for each village:
Morella, 2 hours: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forcall, 1 hour: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Olocau del Rey, 1 hour: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
La Mata, 45 minutes: 5:15 pm – 6:00 pm
Todolella, 45 minutes: 6:15 pm – 7:00 pm
ROUTE: 31 km from the starting point to the end of the itinerary.
RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE: From 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
PLACE TO EAT: In any of the villages along the route (remember to book in advance).
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The Middle Ages were a period of splendour in Els Ports. After the Christian conquest of the territory from the mid‑13th century onwards, new settlers established themselves here, bringing new customs, language, traditions and wealth. This marked the beginning of an outstanding historical, architectural and cultural heritage that today forms an essential part of the identity of our villages.
This route allows you to enjoy special corners and savour traditions of medieval origin, travelling through villages that have preserved their essence. From Morella to Olocau del Rey, the route explores the western part of the region, an area characterised by small villages with a unique heritage.
03 · THE MEDIEVAL ROUTE
Morella
FIRST STOP
Recommended time to visit the town along the route: 2 hours
Suggested schedule:
From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Keep in mind that the places you will be visiting usually open at 11:00 am. Therefore, we recommend starting early and using the time beforehand to wander through the beautiful streets of the village.
Useful Contacts
Tourist Office
Telephone: 661 42 52 94
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Monday: closed
A visit to Morella is one of the must‑sees in Els Ports. Walking through its streets is like travelling back in time, where its medieval past stands out in a remarkable way. Surrounded by imposing walls, with their towers and gateways, and crowned by an impregnable castle, the capital of Els Ports deserves an unhurried visit.
EXPLORE
Walk through the historic centre, from the “Sant Miquel” Towers to the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, visiting the Council House with its Gothic halls and medieval prison, the Jewish quarter, the porticoed Blasco de Alagón Street and the “Pla dels Estudis”. Along the way, you will enjoy impressive manor houses, charming corners and remarkable historic buildings.
VISIT
DID YOU KNOW THAT...
The Cross of the Three Crowned Heads was erected to commemorate an important event that took place in Morella in the 15th century. In 1414, a meeting was held in the “Sant Francesc” convent between King Ferdinand of Antequera, Pope Benedict XIII (known as “Papa Luna”), and Saint Vincent Ferrer. These three prominent figures came to the town in an attempt to resolve the Western Schism, a period of crisis in the Catholic Church during which three different papacies coexisted.
The meeting lasted more than fifty days and ended without a solution, as the pope remained firm in his position, refusing to abdicate and eventually fleeing to Peñíscola, where he lived in isolation until his death. This remarkable historical episode is remembered today by this fascinating monument, located opposite the imposing San Miquel gateway and towers.
A MUST-SEE IN THE TOWN
You can’t leave Morella without trying the flaons, a traditional local pastry filled with fresh cheese and almonds, an essential part of the town’s culinary identity.
03 · MEDIEVAL ROUTE
Forcall
SECOND STOP
Recommended visit time in the town within the route:
1 hour
Proposed schedule:
From 12:30 p.m. to 01:30 p.m.
Please note that the services to be visited usually close at 1:30 pm.
Forcall is a town situated at the confluence of three rivers, whose shape, resembling a gallows, gives the town its name. Its historic center boasts elegant buildings and an imposing main square, testaments to a fascinating past that permeates its streets. The town has preserved ancient traditions with a medieval flavor and a significant architectural, historical, and ethnological heritage, which is housed in its museums.
EXPLORE
Visit the arcaded Plaza Mayor , where two of its
Visit the main palaces, the Osset Palace and the Palace of "Les Escaletes" . Explore the narrow streets around the Church of the Assumption, where houses still display interesting ceramic altarpieces on their facades. Finally, discover the town's oven , the oldest working oven in Europe, and stroll to the hermitage of "Sant Josep" to enjoy beautiful views of the rivers.
VISIT
DID YOU KNOW...
In January, Forcall celebrates "La Santantonà," a fire festival of medieval origin that incorporates both pagan and Christian elements. The event takes place annually on the weekend closest to January 17th.
The celebration begins on Friday, with the construction of an imposing bonfire in the form of a barrack, which is burned at night as the culmination of the paratheatrical performance that travels through the main streets of the town and symbolizes the struggle between good (represented by Saint Anthony and Saint Paul) and evil (represented by different characters among which are the "botargues", the "filoseta" or the "desnudado").
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
You can't leave Forcall without trying the coquetas , typical local pastries made for celebrations like Santantonà, filled with pumpkin jam.
03 · MEDIEVAL ROUTE
La Todolella
THIRD STOP
Recommended visit time in the town within the route
45 minutes
Proposed schedule
In the afternoon, depending on where you ate
Useful phone numbers
TOWN HALL:
Tel. 964 17 11 78
Schedule:
Monday to Friday
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Todolella is a village that has preserved its medieval urban layout. Its narrow, winding streets snake along the contours of the mountain, fanning out from the highest part of the village, where the castle, a stately building that crowns the whole, is located.
EXPLORE
Before the turnoff to enter Todolella, stop to enjoy the spectacular Gothic bridge, an engineering marvel from the 13th century.
Once in the town center of Todolella, wander through the narrow streets, passing by the Plaza Mayor, where the ancient "warrior dance" is performed every year, and continue to the Church of Sant Bertomeu, with its unusual bell tower. From the highest point of the town, overlooking the threshing floors, admire the imposing castle of the Lord of Todolella.
VISIT
DID YOU KNOW...
In Todolella, the ancient "warrior dance" is preserved, passed down for centuries from generation to generation to the present day. It is notable for its antiquity, originality, diversity of dances and instruments, and the difficulty and risk involved in its execution. This ancient sword dance, with possible medieval roots, is unique in its kind throughout the Valencian Community.
03 · MEDIEVAL ROUTE
La Mata
FOURTH STOP
Proposed schedule
In the afternoon
Useful phone numbers
TOWN HALL:
Tel. 964 18 00 01
Schedule:
Monday to Friday
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
La Mata is a small town that surprises visitors with its charming corners and interesting ancestral homes, testaments to the medieval society of the centuries following the Christian conquest of the territory. The local espadrille-making tradition has survived to this day and permeates the identity of its residents.
EXPLORE
Before reaching the first houses of the village, at its two entrances, stop to enjoy the spectacular "peirons" or Gothic boundary crosses from the 15th century that are preserved in the town.
Once in the village, starting from Barranco Street, where the oldest house in town is located, wander through the streets of La Mata, passing through Plaza del Onso until you reach the arcaded Plaza Mayor . There you can admire the Vallés Palace, the Pedro Palace, and the Burned House, imposing palaces that offer a glimpse into medieval society. From there, climb up to the church square , where this is located.
temple dedicated to the Virgin of the Snows, as well as the Vila Palace, a public building constructed in the 16th century.
VISIT
DID YOU KNOW...
For some years now, an ancient festival with possible medieval origins, representing the end of winter and the arrival of spring, has been revived in La Mata. This festival, known as "El Onso," features a person dressed in sheepskins with their face blackened with charcoal, symbolizing a bear who roams the village streets, frightening people and climbing onto balconies.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
You can't leave La Mata without buying a pair of hemp espadrilles . They've been made here for ages, handcrafted from traditional styles to the latest designs.
03 · MEDIEVAL ROUTE
Olocau del Rey
FIFTH STOP
Proposed schedule
In the afternoon.
Useful phone numbers
TOURIST INFORMATION POINT:
Tel. 646 03 02 82
Schedule:
It changes weekly. Call for information.
Located in the westernmost part of Els Ports, the town of Olocau del Rey stands out for its interesting history and for housing an important architectural and artistic heritage that deserves to be visited.
Gateway to the region from Aragon, your visit becomes a journey that will allow you to discover corners frozen in time.
EXPLORE
In the Plaza Mayor, you can admire the Town Hall , a 16th-century Renaissance-style mansion that stands out for its grandeur. From there, wander through the streets of the historic center until you reach the medieval oven , which houses an interesting museum exhibition and the local tourist information office. Visit the medieval prison and then head to Olcaf Castle , a fortress that dominates the landscape and offers spectacular views of the area. The castle is a fundamental part of the town's history. Also, be sure to visit the Parish Church of Our Lady of the People , dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, which houses the Romanesque carving of the Virgin of the Orange.
VISIT
DID YOU KNOW...
In Olocau del Rey, a Romanesque wooden carving of the Virgin of the Orange is preserved. It depicts the Virgin Mary seated with the Christ Child on her lap, holding an orange sphere in her right hand. Tradition tells that the image was given to the town by a coastal orange farmer who, due to his son's illness, had to move to Olocau del Rey seeking a place where his son could be cured. He promised to donate an image of the Virgin if his wish was granted.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
Si quieres disfrutar de unas vistas espectaculares en medio de un lugar cargado de historia, tienes que subir a pie hasta el Castillo de Olcau.
MEDIEVAL
ROUTE
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TO CONTINUE ENJOYING THE MIDDLE AGES IN ELS PORTS, YOU CAN'T MISS
VALLIBONA: Medieval painted ceiling of the Church of the Assumption. To visit it, ask at the Tourist Information Point / Town Hall. Tel. 964 17 20 20.
CORATXÀ: Church of San Jaime. To visit it, ask at the Hostería San Jaime. Tel. 977 72 91 90.
HERBÉS: Baron's Castle-Palace. Ask about guided tour days and the opening hours of the tourist information point. Tel. 606 14 00 66.
CASTELLFORT: Hermitage of "Sant Pere". Ask at City Hall. Tel. 964 445 781
PORTELL: 13th-century walls. Ask at the Town Hall. Tel. 964 17 87 79