Complete Guide to Route of Castellón

The Camino de Castellón, also known as the "Camino of Santiago del Maestrazgo", is a Jacobean route that links the Mediterranean coastline of the Plana with the Ebro valley, traversing the historic, mountainous and arid territory of the Maestrazgo. It is an itinerary that abandons the Mediterranean light to delve into the austere and monumental interior of Spain, serving as a connection for pilgrims from Castellón's territories to the Camino del Ebro and, through it, to the French Way.

The origins of this route are based on the medieval network of roads that connected the Levant coast with Aragon's interior. These routes, used for trade, livestock, and communication, also served pilgrims. The devotion to St. James is present in the region since ancient times, and its symbolic starting point, the hermitage of Sant Jaume de Fadrell in Castellón, attests to it. After the Reconquista, much of this territory was administered by military orders, such as the Order of the Temple and, after its dissolution, the Order of Montesa. These monk-soldiers, deeply connected to the defense of Christendom, promoted faith and pilgrimage in their domains.

The heart of this route is the passage through the Maestrazgo (or "Maestrat" in Valencian), a historic comarca that extends into Castellón's interior and Aragon's south. Its name derives from the "Great Master", the highest authority of the military orders that governed it. It is a land of abrupt landscapes, deep ravines, and "moles" (calcareous mesas). Its geographical isolation made it a territory of rugged character and untamed spirit, the scene of important historical episodes such as the Carlist Wars.

The itinerary, starting from Castellón de la Plana, ascends progressively, leaving behind orange groves to delve into the Sierra de Espadán and interior valleys. It passes through towns like Alcora, famous for its ceramics, and Lucena del Cid. The most spectacular landmark of the route is undoubtedly the city of Morella. Its image, with an imposing castle crowning a conical hill and medieval walls embracing the settlement, is one of the most impressive in Spain. Morella was a stronghold of first order and a commercial and livestock center of great importance in the Middle Ages, a mandatory stop for any traveler.

After leaving Morella, the route enters Bajo Aragón, Teruel province. The landscape becomes drier and more continental. The route passes through towns like Alcorisa and traverses a zone marked by recent history, passing near the ruins of Belchite's old town, destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and preserved as a monument to peace.

The final destination of the route is the Ebro valley. The Camino de Castellón descends from highlands to join the Camino del Ebro in Fuentes de Ebro, very close to Zaragoza. Once in the Ebro, the pilgrim joins a much more traveled Jacobean route that will take them to Logroño to connect with the French Way. The modern revival of this itinerary has highlighted an exigent and solitary route, ideal for pilgrims seeking to discover the patrimony and landscapes of one of Spain's most unknown and fascinating comarcas.