To the Top of the Mountain

After an ascent with curves through the mountain and about three kilometers before reaching Ares del Maestre, there is an obligatory stop at the viewpoint.
There is space to park the car on one side. From here you can appreciate the panoramic view of the village that seems to hang on the mountain with the castle as the main point at the top.

Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, its original construction dates from the thirteenth century, although what can be seen today was its reconstruction from the eighteenth century because it was mostly destroyed during the War of the Succession. Its large entrance door with the four columns that surround it and give it that particular beauty.

Most of the houses in the village have been built on the base of the large rock where the castle once stood. Between the rock and the buildings there is a narrow cobblestone pedestrian street that surrounds the castle at the bottom.
The route is ideal to make stops and take pictures of the stone arches with the background of the houses with their facades made of stone.

At the top of Ares del Maestre, today there are only ruins of what was a strategic place during the wars that took place from the thirteenth to the nineteenth century and that had as protagonists among others to King James I.
The ruins of the castle are accessed by walkways, where the views of the mountains are exceptional. There are guided tours to learn about the history of the village, ask at the Tourist Office located next to the church.

On the outskirts of Ares del Maestre, this restaurant specializes in cuisine from the Maestrazgo region such as goat cheese, hazelnut mousse or lamb. The dishes are prepared with fresh products.
To finish off lunch, try the "cremaet", a drink containing a mixture of liquor, coffee, cinnamon, sugar and lemon, which is usually drunk after meals. They have a menu for about 18 euros which does not include the drink.
Open Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 – 18:00.

This curious museum shows how the habitants of Vilafranca took advantage of the stone they removed from the land to make it arable.
With these stones they built fences, huts and other small constructions to improve the life and work of the locals. Today, dry stone construction is one of the heritages of Vilafranca and all its history can be seen in the museum tour with models, videos and exhibition of old tools used.
Open Hours: Friday to Sunday: 11:30 – 17:00.
It is also an interesting plan to visit the historical centre of the town of Vilafranca on days when the museum is closed.

On the way to Morella, the village of Castellfort is an icon that deserves a stop. Like Ares del Maestrat, its stone buildings are hanging from the mountain.
The tour goes quickly, as its historic center is small with the church of the Assumption of Mary as the main stage. It is a real open-air museum, where the stone and red roofs of the buildings make it spectacular.

Five kilometers before reaching Morella and before turning onto the N-232 road, this viewpoint is a foretaste of what you will find later. Here you can see the wall that surrounds the village with the small buildings at the bottom, the big rock in the middle and the castle at the top.
A postcard that explains why Morella is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. The landscape changes depending on the season. In winter, you can see the village with snow.

Parking inside Morella is not allowed, it is for residents only. There is a parking lot outside the walls that charges € 2,5 per day.

A classic taperia that has been in Morella for more than 100 years of activity. It is ideal to eat rations such as croquettes, cuttlefish or octopus. It also has combined dishes. Not only that, but it is one of the few gastronomic places that remain open at night.
Open Hours: Every day: 7:00 – 22:00, except on Sundays night and Thursdays throughout the day.

The best thing to do in Morella is to forget about the car and leave it parked for the whole time of your visit.
Choosing a hotel inside the wall is ideal to be close to all the attractions on foot and to the restaurants on the main street. And if you have views of the mountain, the walls or the castle even better.