On the hill of San Cristóbal, Castillo de Beatriz de Borgia stands near the town centre; the Cisterna Ãrabe tells another part of the town’s story: its water supply up to the 1960s. Together with the Renaissance church, a hermitage overlooking the RÃo Palancia basin, and destinations for cycling and swimming trips, Castellnovo offers a range of themes for planning your trip. Architecture and history are just as much at the heart of it as local festivals and dishes.
Castle and cistern: two building histories
Castillo de Beatriz de Borgia is designated a Bien de Interés Cultural and stands on the hill of San Cristóbal, very close to the town centre. The building is said to have Roman origins. During Muslim rule, it was rebuilt on older remains; the names Castillo Nuevo and Castellnou derive from this. In the mid-15th century, Beatriz de Borgia had the castle transformed into a palace with Renaissance features. Thus, early attributions and a later documented transformation of the building come together.
The Cisterna Ãrabe is primarily about water supply and hydraulic engineering. This Hispano-Arabic structure was essential to Castellnovo’s water supply up to the 1960s. It comprises a staircase, an underground chamber and a circular basin with a capacity of approximately 200,000 litres. In the Alto Palancia comarca, the cistern is among the best-preserved examples of this type of Islamic hydraulic engineering. Considering the castle and cistern side by side reveals two different focuses: a transformation into a palace and a structure built for the municipal water supply.
Churches and views from San Cristóbal
The Iglesia de los Santos Reyes is a Renaissance church with a Latin-cross plan, Corinthian and Doric columns, a chapel and two paired domes. The church preserves 17th-century wall paintings, particularly in the chapel. The first construction phase was completed on 24 September 1662. This date refers to that phase of construction and can therefore be distinguished from the building’s later history. The floor plan and orders of the columns offer a different architectural perspective from the cistern’s technical structure.
The Ermita de San Cristóbal stands on the 571-metre-high summit of Cerro de San Cristóbal. It dates from the 15th century and was completely restored in 1977. The site by the hermitage offers views across the RÃo Palancia basin towards the Mediterranean; the Sierra Calderona Natural Park lies in the background. Another structure at the start of the ascent to Cerro is the Ermita de San Antonio de Padua. It was built in 1724 and has an atrium to shelter the faithful and visitors.
Cycling and swimming destinations
The R18 cycling route is rated moderate and is 57 kilometres long. It leads through the forests of the Sierra de Espadán, alongside the Pantano del Regajo and the RÃo Palancia. The first five kilometres start from Castellnovo. Its length and rating provide a concrete framework for your planning; at the same time, this cycling route is quite different from a trip to a single swimming spot.
From the area around Fuente de la Mina, a path leads through the Sierra de San Roque to the RÃo Chico and Poza de los Gitanos, which is suitable for swimming. Water and access conditions may change. If you would like to swim there, check conditions before your visit. These are two distinct options: a longer cycling route with several named landscape features, or a path to a destination where swimming is an option.
Festivals and local specialities
Traditional celebrations also offer a glimpse into local life. The Santa Cruz celebrations include a traditional chocolate gathering. The Fiesta de la Mina takes place in July and includes the distribution of filled rolls and a dance event. Las Mozas honours the Virgen del Rosario: the streets are decorated and a costume parade takes place. The exact festival dates may vary. If a festival is the reason for your trip, check the dates for your planned travel period.
Olla de col is considered a typical dish of Castellnovo. Other recommended local specialities include Olla de pencas, Cocas and artisan cheeses. Along with the festivals, these dishes add a culinary perspective to the picture of the castle, churches and landscape. When planning your trip, you can choose between different focuses: historic buildings, a cycling route, a swimming spot or local traditions.
Discover more destinations: Onda, Morella, Arañuel, La Vall D'uixó, Assuévar, Castell De Cabres, Viver, Burriana
For the overview of the wider region: Castellon.
