What to see and visit in Oropesa del Mar

The historic centre of this town perfectly embodies the values of the Mediterranean and its way of life. Its narrow streets are configured around the Moorish castle, housing a multitude of charming corners and the main monuments of the municipality that act as silent witnesses of its intriguing history.

Due to its strategic seaside location, different cultures have populated this emblematic town over the centuries. Now is your time to discover it!

Have you ever imagined a similar place? More than five thousand different playing cards come together in this unusual museum located in the heart of the old town of Oropesa del Mar.

The Naipe Museum is a true tribute to the playing card, one of the most widespread board games in the world, with countless versions from different countries, cultures and eras. Come and take a trip around the world!

The patron saint of Oropesa del Mar, Our Lady of Patience, hides a curious story beneath her cloak. The carving of the Virgin, a 16th century Baroque image originally called the Virgin of the Rosary, was attacked by Barbary pirates on 25 September 1619, the day of her feast day, and was destroyed.

The carving was taken to Valencia for restoration and due to various vicissitudes of history it did not return to Oropesa until 1964, several centuries later, for which reason the image was affectionately nicknamed Paciencia. How long the people of Oropesa had to wait!

Built by the Muslims in the 8th century, the castle of Oropesa del Mar was for centuries a valuable trophy for strategic reasons thanks to its spectacular views over the plain. Thus, throughout history, numerous characters such as El Cid or King Jaume I El Conquistador have occupied Oropesa in order to take possession of its castle and dominate the area.

Today, its walls and much of the grandeur of times gone by are still preserved, emulating the kings and feudal lords of the Middle Ages. Living history!

Located right in the historic centre, the Museu d'Orpesa is the perfect place to discover the cultural legacy of this historic town and appreciate every detail of its monuments. Did you know that the pirate Barba Roja tried to conquer Oropesa in the Middle Ages?

The opening hours of the museum, which also organises guided tours of the old town, are from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm (Monday mornings only), except in summer, when the opening hours are extended daily from 10:30 am to 2 pm and from 6 pm to 9 pm.

More than for its landscape, the Desierto de las Palmas, where Mediterranean vegetation abounds, owes its name to the silence and peace that reigns in its more than 3,000 hectares of unspoilt countryside, far from urban centres.

This area is protected as a Natural Park and is a perfect excursion for nature lovers due to its magnificent views of the mountains with the sea as a backdrop.

The ruins of Miravet Castle are further proof of the importance that this territory had during the Middle Ages for the defence of the ancient kingdoms against pirate attacks.

Nowadays, a visit to this castle is a pleasant walk in the middle of nature in which the melancholy of the glorious past of the lands through which the path passes, nowadays a refuge for many endemic species of the Mediterranean, can be felt.

The port of Oropesa is one of the most important in the province of Castellón and as well as being an ideal place to practice any water sport or enjoy a day's sailing, it is a perfect setting for a stroll at sunset and enjoy the breeze and the swaying of the boats.

Without a doubt, it is a reference point for recreational sailing in the Valencian Community with a land area of 62,281 m2 and a body of water of almost 50,000 m2 with space for more than 700 moorings.

The name of the Columbretes Islands comes from many centuries ago when the first discoverers of the islands were shocked by the large number of snakes they found in the archipelago. So much so that in the 19th century the island was set on fire to get rid of the snakes.

Anecdotes aside, this small archipelago has a very important ecological interest in which vegetation and fauna are protected due to their endemic nature. It is a real pleasure to walk along its paths in the middle of the sea. Undoubtedly, a unique plan.

This watchtower located on the seashore and built in 1413 is further proof of the importance that pirates had in this area centuries ago. The coasts must have been defended and today we can enjoy these vestiges that tell us so much about that past that was very real but today seems like a legend.

This construction is a unique example in the whole of the Mediterranean due to its perfect state of preservation, with walls more than 4 metres thick. Impressive!