Montesa
Montesa is a historic town on la Costera with an impressive castle visible from many parts of the region. The Castle of Montesa has been declared a historical-artistic monument and was for centuries the headquarters of the Order of Montesa. Destroyed by an earthquake and its aftershocks in 1748, only some dependencies of what was at the time the Sacred and Royal Convent of the order of Santa María de Montesa and Sant Jordi de Alfama can be recognized.
Its unique location, in a wide valley formed by the Cànyoles river, with the typical wildlife and vegetation of the Valencian wetlands, and near a branch of the Enguera mountain range, gives the Montesa landscape a beautiful contrast. Natural places such as La Mola stand out, an ideal place to start in the world of climbing, the place of la Fonteta, or the Barranc de la Fosch, which make Montesa an attractive destination for nature lovers.
A walk through the streets of the old town is highly recommended, starting with the Plaça de la Vila where the most interesting buildings are located. Over the town square is l’església de l’Assumpció (Church of the Assumption), built in 1693 under the direction of Father Juan Aparicio, at that time master of the work of the collegiate church of Xàtiva. Inside, valuable works of art are preserved, such as The Historic Organ from 1744, which has been restored twice. Also, very interesting are the Gothic paintings of its altarpieces, works by the master of Xàtiva / Artés / Borbotó and Gaspar Requena, painters who left their mark throughout the region.
In front of the bell tower of the parish church, is the Montesa Parish Museum. Located in a restored 16th century building, it has a pictorial and sculptural collection with funds from the church and the castle. Farther from the town center is the Oil Museum, an old oil mill restored in 2009 which, in addition, also houses the premises of the Tourist Information office. Also, worth mentioning are the Calvari hermitage and the Santa Creu hermitage.
