Castell de la Vilavella

Situated on the outskirts of the village of Vilavella in the Plana Baixa region, the Castell de la Vilavella stands 146 metres high along the Camí dels Coves. Today, the structure remains in a state of total abandonment and ruin. However, its history is deep, as the castle was built on the remains of Iberian and Roman settlements. The area is considered the original settlement of modern Nules, where a Roman sanctuary was discovered.

The locality's history dates back to a settlement around the 10th century, during which time the castle was constructed. It was known to belong to the kingdom of Tortosa. In 1238, the site was captured as a side effect of the reconquest of Borriana. In 1251, King Jaume I of Aragon ceded the town to Guillem de Montcada, who later passed it to his son, Guillem Ramon. In 1314, Ramon de Montcada sold the city, the castle, and the territory of Nules to the noble Gilabert de Centelles.

By 1316, Gilabert de Centelles became the lord of the castle, making it a reference point for the four populations of the barony: La Vilavella, Moncofa, Sa Pobla de Nules, and Mascarell. In 1321, Guillem Ros began serving as the castle's commander. During the 14th century, the castle featured a chapel dedicated to Santa Maria i Sant Jaume, though it was destroyed in 1364. It was reconstructed during the 15th century, at which point a new chapel was installed in the central tower.

The castle features a floor decorated with the Centelles coat of arms and the legends 'Cent dol·lors a un plaer' and 'Comtes vells, baralla nova'. By 1481, the castle was recorded as inhabited with its doors open, marking the beginning of its period of abandonment. Today, despite its ruined state, parts of the walls and towers can still be seen.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons