Why a Spanish city celebrates its move from the mountains to the plains

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Castellón de la Plana owes its existence to a 13th-century migration. Once a hilltop fortress, the town descended to the fertile plains under royal decree. Today, this history is immortalized in the Magdalena Festivities, where mobile lanterns called Gaiatas recreate the journey of the city’s very first settlers.

The origins of Castellón de la Plana are rooted in the medieval era, specifically the 13th-century transition from Moorish rule to Christian control. Initially, the population lived near the Castle of Fadrell, a fortification on the Magdalena hill. In 1251, James I of Aragon granted Ximén Pérez d'Arenós the privilege to relocate the settlement to the plains, a move traditionally completed by 1252. This foundational shift remains the city's cultural heartbeat, celebrated annually during the Magdalena Festivities, which feature the Romería de las Cañas pilgrimage.

Throughout the centuries, the city evolved from a fortified medieval town into a provincial capital. Its architecture reflects this layered history, from the 15th-century El Fadrí bell-tower to the 18th-century City Hall. However, the city has also faced significant upheaval, including the destruction of its original 13th-century co-cathedral during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Despite these losses, the city maintained its identity, eventually expanding beyond its old walls in the 19th century following the arrival of the railway and the growth of its port.

Modern Castellón is a study in contrasts, balancing industrial heritage with contemporary infrastructure. While it hosts a modern university established in 1991, it also bears the scars of economic excess; the Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport, completed in 2011, is frequently cited as a symbol of the wasteful spending that preceded the 2008–13 Spanish financial crisis. Today, the city serves as a hub for the Valencian Community, maintaining a distinct character shaped by its unique geography—where the Prime Meridian intersects the 40th parallel—and a resilient, if sometimes turbulent, sporting and cultural life.

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