Peñíscola

A walled old town on a headland jutting into the Mediterranean, dominated by a Templar castle that overlooks a long sandy beach, with the Irta natural park and the old town of Morella nearby.

Peñíscola lies on the Maestrazgo coast at the northern tip of Castellón province, in the Valencian Community of Spain, between Valencia and Barcelona. The old town is built on a rocky headland about 64 meters high that juts into the Mediterranean, connected to the mainland only by a narrow sandbar, which is why it is called the 'town on the sea'. At the highest point stands the castle built by the Knights Templar in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. In the early 15th century, the antipope Benedict XIII, known as the 'Moon Pope', made it his papal seat, which is why it is also called the Papal Castle of the Moon. The outer bastion walls were added in the 16th century under Philip II. The whitewashed alleys, the Bufador sea caves carved by the waves, the Ermita de la Virgen de la Ermitana and the Marine Museum are all on the headland. The town has also been used as a filming location for the film 'El Cid' and the TV series 'Game of Thrones'.

The North Beach, about 5 km long, is the main resort area. To the south there is a fishing harbour and small beaches. Further south lies the Sierra de Irta natural park, which preserves the most unspoilt stretch of the Valencian coastline. You can walk or cycle along the coastal path to Paduma and Wild Bay.

The climate is Mediterranean. June to September is beach season, with July and August the busiest and most expensive for accommodation. April to June and September to October are mild, ideal for exploring the old town and hiking in Irta. Winter is quiet, and some hotels and restaurants close.

Getting there: the nearest railway station is Benicarló–Peñíscola, served by regional trains between Valencia and Barcelona. From the station, take a bus or taxi for about 15 minutes. Castellón Airport is about an hour away, and Valencia Airport about 1.5–2 hours.

Plan 2–3 days. One day can include a drive inland to the old town of Morella. Note that the old town has many slopes and steps and gets very hot in summer, so visit the castle early or late in the day. Vehicles are banned inside the old town, so park in the car park outside the walls.

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