Chulilla Castle

Chulilla castle crowns the hill that bears its name, and the village spreads along one of its slopes. It is of Muslim origin, although the town council points out that there were undoubtedly earlier fortifications on this site, and it is declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. Turisme Comunitat Valenciana lists it as open to the public. From the top you understand the place: the white houses hanging over the cliff and, below, the Turia emerging from its gorges.

History

According to Chulilla Town Council, remains from the Bronze Age have been excavated at the top of Castillo hill and there was an Iberian settlement. In Islamic times it was the "hisn" or castle of Xulella, head of a district. Abu Zayd handed it to the Church of Segorbe in 1236, James I granted it for life to Pere Escrivá in 1248 and in 1274 the Barony of Chulilla was created, in the hands of the chapter and the bishop of Valencia. In 1379, because of the war with Castile, it was reinforced.

Once its medieval military function was over, it served for much of its history as an ecclesiastical prison. It was occupied in the wars of Succession and of Independence and, above all, in the Carlist wars: General Cabrera's troops took it and the Isabelline forces recovered it after several sieges; on 2 August 1839, the day of the Virgen de los Ángeles, the Isabelline troops seized it. Its last military use was in 1872. It has been in ruins since the 18th-century earthquake, and the wars made many of its elements disappear.

What you see

The castle defends only the south-east side of the crag: the rest is sheer walls cut by the Turia. It forms a walled enclosure of about 250 metres, with towers adapted to the terrain, an outer wall with arrow slits and a circular detached tower. You enter through a round-arched gate, defended by a machicolation and another circular tower. Inside are remains of outbuildings, including a vaulted room, and in the southernmost part the noble area, with U-shaped buildings around what was the parade ground and a large square tower. At the top are remains of two cisterns, one very large. Nothing remains of the hermitage of San Miguel that was once here.

From the large windows you see the back of the wall, which is the rock itself carved by the river. This is where the legend of "la mora encantá" is set, which the town council tells in its audio guide. A request from the council itself: do not climb on the walls.

How to get up

You walk up from the upper streets of the village; the address is Calle Castillo 29. The council's audio guides 8, 9 and 10, "Al pie de la muralla", "Puerta de entrada al castillo" and "Ventanales del castillo", accompany the climb. The SL-CV 72 footpath, Las Cuevas – Peñeta, circles the slope of the castle hill. The guided tours of the historic centre, the church and the castle that left on Saturdays from the Tourist Info are temporarily suspended. The council does not publish access hours: if in doubt, call the tourist office, on 96 165 79 79.

Bring water and a hat in summer. Chulilla is at about 400 metres above sea level and has a Mediterranean climate with continental influence.

What to combine

Go back down afterwards to the old village and look out from the La Peñeta viewpoint. The big plan in the village is the Pantaneros route, with its hanging bridges; and for lunch, the Hostal El Pozo restaurant.