Logbook · 8 places

What to see and do in Macastre

What to see and do in Macastre (La Hoya de Buñol, Valencia): 8 places across monuments, nature, activities and curiosities, with a photo and a Google Maps location.

1 Villages · 3 Monuments · 1 Nature · 1 Activities · 1 Historical milestones · 1 Food and drink

How far each place is from the centre of Macastre

Towns near Macastre

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What to see in Buñol 4.1 km · 13 places
What to see in Turís 6.5 km · 4 places
What to see in Godelleta 9.8 km · 12 places
What to see in Dos Aguas 11 km · 11 places
What to see in Chiva 11 km · 11 places
What to see in Siete Aguas 15 km · 16 places

Spain › Valencian Community › Valencia › La Hoya de Buñol › Macastre

What to see and do in Macastre

Macastre
Village
Macastre is a Spanish-speaking municipality in the comarca of Hoya de Buñol, in the province of Valencia, situated between the basins of the Buñol and Magro rivers, on rugged terrain with the sierras del Ave or de Dos Aguas to the south. Its name, of Latin origin, probably comes from castra magna, "great camp", after a Roman military camp. The village grew at the foot of the cerro del Castillo, 430 metres high, and expanded from the 19th century onward. At 374 metres above sea level, its castle, of Muslim origin dating to around the 11th century, stands on earlier Roman remains, with finds of Iberian pottery and a 268 BC as sextantario; its Church of the Transfiguration was built between the 17th and 18th centuries. It has 1461 inhabitants.
Castle of Macastre
Monument
Macastre Castle has its most remote origins in Roman times, although the Islamic fortress that survives today was built around the 11th century and received Christian reforms in the 14th century. It adapts to the terrain of the hill on which it stands and preserves two towers at its ends -the best preserved being the western one-, walls to the north and south, and interior facilities such as cisterns and communal granaries. Its location, in the border area between the kingdoms of Valencia and Castile, gave it strategic importance of the first order. Today it is in a ruined state and has been declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Spain's highest level of heritage protection) since 22 April 1949.
Spring of el Bolot
Monument
Historic fountain in Macastre decorated with Valencian tiles from 1925.
Festivities of Macastre
Activity
Macastre's patronal festivities, in the first half of August, honor San Salvador and Santa Bárbara with an opening address, a paella contest, open-air dances, a procession and the traditional breakfast with Macastre's typical bun.
Church of la Transfiguración de Macastre
Monument
The church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, on the plaza de la Iglesia of Macastre, was built between the 17th and 18th centuries combining Baroque and Neoclassical styles, and is listed as a Bien de Relevancia Local (a local-level heritage protection designation). The oldest part is the ashlar bell tower, from the early 17th century, probably from shortly after 1611, when Macastre was resettled following the expulsion of the Moriscos. The facade, from the late 18th century and Neoclassical in character, takes up the Tuscan order of the bell tower with two large pilasters framing it. Inside, with a single nave, side chapels and a raised choir at the foot, the Capilla de la Comunión stands out, with a central plan and covered by a dome decorated with Corinthian pilasters, and a camarín with a small wooden shrine; the present-day flooring dates from 1906.
Site of Fuente Santa Bárbara of Macastre
Nature
Natural setting in the municipal district of Macastre, one of the spring-fed spots, together with Fuente Grande, that give the municipality its landscape character.
Settlement charter of Macastre of 1611
Historical milestone
The place kept a Muslim population until the expulsion and was left deserted. In 1611 the lord granted a charter of settlement to install Christian families, who reorganised the cultivation of olive, almond and carob around the castle hill.
Oil, almond and carob of Macastre
Food and drink
The dry land of the district is shared between olive grove, almond and carob, crops adapted to a poor soil and to scarce rain. The local mill presses the olives of the area and the carob is destined for animal feed and for the food industry.