Castellón de la Plana

Late spring and early autumn are the best seasons, with warm weather and fewer people. Summers are hot and dry, and the sea is warm from June to October. Winters are mild.

The Magdalena festival in March is the biggest event, with a pilgrimage to a hermitage, parades and fireworks.

• Cocatedral de Santa Maria is the main church of the city, on the Plaza Mayor.
• El Fadrí is an octagonal bell tower next to the church. It stands apart from the building and is a symbol of the city.
• The Plaza Mayor is the central square, with the town hall and the market building close by.
• The Basilica of Lledó is a sanctuary dedicated to the patron saint, in a park on the edge of the center.
• The Castell Vell is a ruined medieval castle on a hill to the north.
• The Magdalena Hermitage is a small chapel on a hill, and the destination of the festival pilgrimage.
• The Espai d'Art Contemporani is a contemporary art center.
• El Grau and the beaches (Pinar, Gurugú and Heliópolis) are east of the center.

• Spend a day on the beaches east of the city.
• Walk or cycle to the Magdalena hermitage for views.
• Try rice dishes in a restaurant in El Grau.

• Benicàssim (about 12 km, 15 minutes): a beach town with a long promenade and a music festival.
• Peñíscola (about 70 km, 1 hour): a walled town on a rocky headland with a castle.
• Desert de les Palmes (about 20 km): a natural park with hiking trails and a monastery.
• Columbretes Islands: a marine reserve of volcanic islets, reached by boat in season.
• Valencia (about 75 km, 1 hour by train): the region's biggest city.

Other places nearby:

• Coast: Benicàssim and Peñíscola.
• City: Valencia.

• By air: Castellón airport (CDT) has few flights. Valencia airport is the main alternative, about 90 km away.
• By train: Trains connect Castellón with Valencia, Barcelona and the coast. Book on Renfe.
• By bus: Coaches run to Valencia, Barcelona and nearby coastal towns.

• On foot: The center is flat and compact. The beaches are a few kilometers from the center.
• Cycling: The city is flat, and bike lanes link the center with the beaches.
• Public transport: City buses and a tram-like bus line link the center with El Grau and the beaches.

• Is a car worth it?: Not for the city. A car helps for the hill towns and the northern coast.
• Parking: Use an underground car park in the center.
• Restrictions: Parts of the center are pedestrian only.

Castellón's food is Valencian, with rice dishes at the center. Paella, arroz al horno (baked rice) and fideuà (a noodle dish like paella) are common, and seafood from the port is fresh.

Oranges and other citrus fruits grow in the surrounding plain.

Castellón is a safe city. Summer heat is strong, so wear sun protection and drink water. Take care in the sea when red flags are shown.

The city was founded in the 13th century, when the Christian king James I moved the population from a hill fort to the plain. It grew as an agricultural center, based on oranges and the port.

It became the capital of its province in the 19th century, and it is now a ceramic-tile industry and university center.

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