Its beauty is such that it seems to have been hand-painted, which is why it has been officially recognized as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain. Unofficially, it has earned another title: “village of the artists.” Perhaps because it offers a perfect symbiosis between historical heritage, artistic avant-garde, and landscape richness.
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Vilafamés is located atop a hill overlooking the landscape of the Plana Alta region, in the interior of the province of Castellón. It has an imposing castle, but the first thing that captivates the traveler is its color: the facades of the houses are made with rodena stone, a type of reddish sandstone that gives them a warm and organic tone.
Also surprising, when going up Font Street towards the old town, is the Roca Grossa: a huge tilted stone, weighing more than 2,000 tons, that seems to maintain an impossible balance and has become a symbol of the town. Legend has it that you must touch it and make three wishes so that at least one of them comes true.
The ascent to the upper part of the town, towards the castle and the Church of the Assumption, reveals to the visitor the strategic importance this place had in the past. The castle is of Muslim origin and was renovated during the Carlist Wars, when the central circular tower was built, one of the few examples of Carlist architecture in the Valencian Community. Meanwhile, the Parish Church of the Assumption is Renaissance style and houses inside a valuable early 17th-century altarpiece, as well as frescoes, goldsmithing, and 18th-century Valencian ceramic baseboards.
Art everywhere
Vilafamés lives up to its nickname of “village of the artists” when we move from a 15th-century street to a top-level abstract art gallery like the Vicente Aguilera Cerni Contemporary Art Museum (MACVAC), a pioneering institution in Spain that has attracted artists from all over the world to the town. Located in the imposing Palau del Batlle, a 15th-century civil Gothic building, the museum houses a collection of more than 500 works of art, including top names such as Miró and Tàpies.
The dialogue established between the most disruptive avant-garde art and the centuries-old stone walls of the palace and its old town continues to attract painters, sculptors, and writers from all over the world. This makes the village a bohemian and cultural refuge in the heart of nature. Precisely for lovers of the latter, there is the Sant Miquel Municipal Natural Area, where you can enjoy hiking routes of great scenic value, to explore on foot or by bike, such as the hermitage of Sant Miquel (1640), the Cova del Forcat, or the Tossal del Mollet. Additionally, Vilafamés preserves important archaeological sites, such as the Tossal Cave, the Iberian Settlement Estrets-Racó de la Rata, or the cave paintings of the Castle Shelter.
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Photography lovers will find in the natural beauty of the sunset a form of art. When the sun begins to set, the reddish color of the stone intensifies, contrasting with the blue of the sky and the green of the olive trees, inviting the capture of unforgettable images. But Vilafamés is not only to be admired, it is also to be savored.
On the palate
In this village are some of the wineries that produce wines under the Protected Geographical Indication “Vins de les Terres de Castelló” and constitute a clear example of entrepreneurship that combines tradition and modernity. Vineyard visits, guided tastings, and the interpretation of the rodeno terrain as a differentiating element of the terroir offer a complete experience.
Vilafamés also offers one of the best extra virgin olive oils in the Valencian Community produced there and a local cuisine that is a true tribute to local products and tradition. Typical dishes such as Olla de Vilafamés – a hearty and tasty stew made with white beans, rice, meat, and vegetables – oven-baked rice cooked in a pumpkin, or tombet – a delicious lamb stew – will satisfy the most demanding palates. Its pastries also stand out with almond sweets, cristines, pastissos de boniato, and the unique coc de farina.
The characteristic light, rural calm, and vibrant artistic activity of Vilafamés conquer everyone who visits. Because it is a place where the dialogue between the artist and the landscape is constant, where it is shown that art does not need big cities to shine. A destination where history, landscape, contemporary art, and gastronomy ally to surprise a tourism that values authenticity and sustainability.
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More information:
www.comunitatvalenciana.com
