Ares Del Maestre: History and Landscape

Ares Del Maestre sits on a rocky hill overlooking the rugged landscape of El Maestrazgo. Those interested in culture will encounter different eras here: 13th-century Gothic buildings stand alongside Baroque architecture, a medieval fortress, and evidence of earlier uses. The landscape itself also shapes the character of the town. You can therefore plan your stay around the subjects that interest you most: local history, architecture, archaeology, or the natural environment.

Gothic and Baroque Buildings

Around Plaça Major are a former prison and an old market hall. Both buildings date from the 13th century and were built in the Gothic style. The parish church of the Assumption of Mary provides a different accent: it is a Baroque church from the 18th century. Its smaller bell tower is the surviving part of an earlier Gothic church. The buildings thus offer a chance to observe different historical layers without confusing the Gothic remains with the later Baroque architecture.

The castle ruins also bring together different eras. The remains of Ares del Maestrat Castle stand on a rocky plateau at the highest point of the town. The medieval fortress was built over the remains of an earlier Roman structure. Those interested in the development of historic sites will find a clear sequence here: an earlier Roman structure and the medieval fortress built above it.

Cova Remígia offers another way to explore the past. It contains more than 750 figures depicting a variety of themes in Levantine rock art. Seven distinct periods of use have been dated for the rock shelter. The numbers describe different aspects of the site: the figures belong to the rock art, while the dated phases refer to the use of the shelter.

Landscape and Historic Use

The La Mola d'Ares Municipal Natural Area is a plateau 1,321 meters high. It was formed by differential erosion and is bounded by steep cliffs. This landform differs from the rocky hill on which Ares del Maestre stands, although both shape descriptions of the town and region. If you would like to consider geological formations and ridgelines as well as buildings when planning your trip, you can make La Mola a separate focus.

The Barranc dels Molins reveals the history of technology and everyday life. There, a hydraulic engineering complex dating from the 18th century, with five flour mills, has been preserved. The Nevera de los Regatxols reflects a different former use: it was built in the 17th century as a snow store. After its restoration in 2005, it became an interpretation center. It includes an eight-meter-deep snow pit that visitors can tour. Visits to the Museo de la Nevera de la Font dels Regatxols must be arranged by telephone, so call ahead to schedule your visit.

Ermita de Santa Elena and Planning Your Visit

The Ermita de Santa Elena is an 18th-century chapel in the rural Baroque style. Its interior is painted. The annual pilgrimage to the chapel has taken place on the first Sunday in May since 1742. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check the annual event details before setting out.

The Ermita is located at the Masía of the same name, five kilometers from the municipality. The route described from Ares Del Maestre follows the CV-15 toward Vilafranca and then continues along a track. As road conditions can change, check local conditions before your visit. This lets you plan the chapel as a separate stop while also taking the stated access conditions into account.

The site's different themes offer different guidance when choosing when to travel: the pilgrimage takes place on a set date in May, while the buildings, mills, castle ruins, and landscape appeal to other interests. A visit to the Nevera must be arranged by telephone. Ares Del Maestre thus offers several distinct points of interest for a trip, without all the places sharing the same history or landscape.

Discover more destinations: Burriana, Les Alqueries, La Llosa, Fredes, Eslida, Figueroles, Sarratella, Tírig.

For the broader travel overview: Castellon.