Jul 26, 2003 12:08 PM
4799 Views
(Updated Jul 26, 2003 12:08 PM)
During March 2003, my wife and I went to stay at a town on mainland Spain called Oliva. This is approximately halfway between Alicante and Valencia, about two miles inland.
Whilst we were there, we did a lot of touring, but the highlight of the week was a day trip to Xativa El Castell. This is a magnificent castle overlooking the small town of Xativa. To get there you have to drive up a winding road and park just outside the castle walls.
A tip though: get there early as there are not that many parking spaces. If you are later, you either have to park on the narrow winding road, or in the town of Xativa itself. The walk back up the road can be difficult, as there are no pathways up the steep roadway. It is not suitable for disabled people, or people pushing prams or pushchairs.
Opening Times:
During winter:10:00am to 18:00pm
During summer:10:00am to 19:00pm
Please note: The castle is closed every Monday.
A wonderful surprise hit us at the entrance. The cost of entry is only 1.50 Euro each. The person on the gate asked us where we were from. This results in you getting a free guide, in the language of your country.
The Castle is situated on the old Via Augusta or Via Herculea. This is an ancient roadway from Rome to Cadiz. The present day building actually goes back in time to the 10th Century, and was not walled until the 11th Century.
I have found a great source on information about the history of this castle on the following web site: https://castillosdefrontera.net.
Xativa El Castell has many remains that date back to the Middle Ages. During this time King Pedro 1V (The Ceremonioso) gave Xativa the township it has today, for its loyalty during the War of the Union. Later, in the 15th Century, the Kings of Aragon used the castle as a prison.
The Castle is really two halves of one large fortress: The Upper Castle and The Lower Castle.
The Upper Castle is locally known as The Castillo Mayor, and has many parts to it. It also boasts excellent views of the surrounding area and town of Xativa.
Within the Upper Castle, we found lots to see. The free guide you get is very helpful and informs you of all there is to see.
One of the rooms we found is known as Cisterna I Capella Moderna De Sant Jordi. This is a modern chapel called Saint George, and it states that it was more than likely built on the site of the previous one, known as Chapel of Santa Ana Del Castillo. This chapel was about during the 14th and 15th Centuries as can be seen on an engraving dated 1564.
As we walked around, we came across a flight of stairs outside (but within the castle grounds). Here we found 3 cannons. These bronze cannons were remade in their present form in 1690 and apparently came through the 1812 War of Independence unscathed. There are lots of other rooms and paths that can be visited whilst you are in the Upper Castle.
As we reached the Round Tower at the highest part of the Castle you can take breath and admire Xativa in all its glory.
The Lower Castle is locally known as The Castillo Menor. We entered this part by walking back to the entrance where we paid our entry charge and followed the pathway. This part of the castle is not as large as the Upper Castle, but still has plenty to see. We found an enclosure where we saw a commemorative plaque.
Also in the Lower Castle, we found a small balcony. This modern balcony is known as Torre I Balco De La Reina Himilce, and is in a window of the Queen’s Tower. Here you can see a great view of the Upper Castle area (a photographer’s joy).
At the end of the Lower Castle is Torre De L’Espero. This name was given to the 14th Century tower. Again, the views of the surrounding countryside from the walls at this point of the Castle are wonderful.
Having said this, the whole experience of wandering around this magnificent Castle is a photographer’s paradise.
All in all, this is an excellent place to visit for an insight into local history. We really enjoyed Xativa El Castell.
