Discover Castellote

Castellote combines an old town designated a “Bien de Interés Cultural” with the remains of the Templar castle, which define the town centre. The Bosque Pétreo adds a paleontological exhibition theme. If you are looking for a hotel, this mix can help you choose a destination: are you especially interested in architectural and local history, the development of the Earth and plants, or the setting of a hermitage in the rock? The following highlights provide a concrete basis for considering Castellote in light of your travel interests.

Old town, castle and historical chronology

The protected status applies to the old town; the remains of the Templar castle define the town centre. This brings two distinct aspects of the townscape together: the protected old town and the castle complex as a visible landmark in the heart of town. For your travel planning, this offers a clear historical focus without reducing the whole town to a single building.

The Templar castle was built on the orders of Alfonso II on the site of a fortress that Alfonso I had recaptured from the Muslims. The sequence matters: the older fortress preceded the later Templar castle. This makes it possible to understand the complex through its building history, not only through its present-day appearance.

The architecture also provides concrete points of reference. The fortress has an irregular floor plan and four terraced defensive areas. These details describe different aspects of the complex: its overall shape and the stepped arrangement of its defensive areas. The four areas give the description a clear structure, while the irregular floor plan characterises the complex as a whole.

Route markers for the castle and the Vía Ferrata

A footpath to the castle starts at the Church of San Miguel. A more precise route is given for the Castellote Via Ferrata: it starts at the Plaza, passes the blue house on the left and follows the Cuesta de San Miguel towards the church and castle. The Via Ferrata sign is on the path leading to the castle; you can gear up there. The Plaza and the Church of San Miguel are therefore concrete reference points that help you make sense of the routes described in Castellote.

The Bosque Pétreo: fossil tree trunks and the history of the Earth

The Bosque Pétreo offers a different focus from the castle. The exhibition is centred on the enormous fossil tree trunks from the “El Barranquillo” site. Covering an area of approximately 520 m², it provides explanations about the development of the Earth and plant species and also includes a Carboniferous forest. The tree trunks are thus the exhibition’s central feature; the topics of Earth and plant development broaden the perspective to encompass larger natural history contexts.

The difference between the thematic highlights is easy to grasp: the Templar castle focuses on its architectural form and the sequence of the two fortresses, while the Bosque Pétreo features fossil tree trunks and the development of the Earth and plants. If you are interested in a hotel in Castellote, this comparison can help you decide what to focus on during your trip, according to your interests.

The Ermita del Llovedor by the rock

The Ermita del Llovedor is on the north side of the rock on which the castle stands, below a water outlet. This outlet gave the hermitage its name. Its location is therefore described by two specific features: the north side of the castle rock and the water outlet above it. The Ermita adds another clearly identified place in Castellote’s landscape to the architectural and natural history perspectives.

Discover more destinations: Villarroya De Los Pinares, Olba, Nogueruelas, Puig Moreno, Beceite, Villarquemado, Cascante Del Río, La Cerollera.

For the regional travel overview: Teruel.