Discover Macastre: Castle, Old Town and Hiking Trails

Macastre combines a historic town centre with viewpoints, hiking trails and a strong winemaking tradition. You can plan your trip around a range of interests: the history of the Castillo, a stroll through the old town, nature spots, or local festivals and food. This lets you tailor your accommodation search to what interests you most during your stay.

Castle, Old Town and Architectural History

The Castillo de Macastre is a fortress of Islamic origin. A Bronze Age settlement once stood at this site—two widely separated periods in one place. The fortress remains include the main tower, the cistern and parts of the surrounding walls. The ruins can be reached via an easy route. Check local trail conditions and maintenance before your visit.

A walk through the old town takes you to Plaza de los Árboles and the surrounding houses. Some date back to the 19th century, including the present-day town hall. The parish church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour is also part of the historic townscape; it was built between the 17th and 18th centuries. The castle, houses and church offer different ways to discover Macastre’s architectural history on a stroll.

Walks, Views and Scenery

Mirador de los Vientos is a viewpoint you can reach on a walk through Macastre. Another destination is Fuente de Santa Bárbara: take Eduard Escalante Street to the Las Eras district. From there, a downhill lane leads to the spring. As road conditions can change, it is a good idea to check trail conditions before your visit.

Fuente Grande offers a different natural setting. Fresh water flows from a natural spring into the outlets, while closely spaced trees provide shade and coolness. There are also paella grills and picnic tables. If you plan to use these facilities, confirm that they are available on site.

The Magro River runs through the entire municipal area along a deeply incised course, forming gorges. Macastre also has a network of marked hiking trails connecting places of scenic interest. The PR-CV 191 Macastre is listed as 24.00 kilometres long, with a theoretical walking time of six hours and an ascent and descent of 935 metres each. No quality checks are available for its homologation; signage and maintenance may have changed since the recorded homologation or quality-check status. Check the markings and trail conditions before setting out.

Festivals and Local Cuisine

Local festivals in honour of the patron saints Santa Bárbara and San Salvador take place in the first half of August. The programme includes exhibitions, sports competitions, traditional open-air dances and concerts. The first weekend of September sees the festivals of “las clavarias de María,” with religious events in honour of the Virgin, mascletàs, open-air dancing and processions. If you want to plan your trip around a celebration, check the exact dates and that year’s programme.

Macastre’s cuisine includes mojete made with pork liver, oil and flour, as well as rin-ran made with cod, eggs, garlic, potatoes and raw oil. Gazpacho manchego and torta boba are also among the local dishes mentioned. What you can try varies by establishment and season. Intensive vine cultivation and a strong winemaking tradition shape the local character.

Discover more destinations: Montesa, Castielfabib, Quartell, Sot De Chera, L'eliana, Benissoda, Siete Aguas, Vilamarxant.

For the main travel overview: Valencia.