Santa Magdalena De Pulpis: Castle, Nature Park and Regional Trails

Santa Magdalena de Pulpis combines reminders of the past with the landscapes of the Serra d’Irta. Historic buildings, signposted trails, traditional festivals and a nature park with mountains and coastline can be found around the town.

Fortress, history and distinctive buildings

Castillo de Polpís preserves Arab walls, an entrance protected by the Torre del Homenaje, a cistern, the remains of a square tower and remnants of the original settlement. The fortress is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural. It stands at an altitude of 431 metres above a former Arab alcazaba; alterations by the Order of Calatrava and the Knights Templar in the 13th century shaped its present form.

The present-day urban settlement emerged after the inhabitants were relocated from Castillo de Polpís to the plain at the foot of Monte Pulpis following the conquest. The Iglesia parroquial de Santa Magdalena also reflects a long architectural development: construction of the present church began in 1860, following an earlier building erected in 1330. It was completed and consecrated six years later; in 1863, the former Gothic chapel was converted into a chapel of communion.

Inside, the church has a single longitudinal nave with side chapels and Ionic details. The detached square bell tower ends in a small belfry topped with glazed ceramic, in the Valencian Baroque tradition. This architectural heritage is complemented by the Torre de San Millán, built in 1848 and 1849 as part of the state optical telegraph network. Don Juan María Mathé designed it as a fortified tower with a defensive military character.

Serra d’Irta and trails through the landscape

The Serra d’Irta Nature Park includes Santa Magdalena de Pulpis and was declared a nature park in 2002. The heights of the sierra generally range between 300 and 400 metres, with three peaks exceeding 500 metres. Along the coast, this landscape also includes 12 kilometres of sandy beaches, dune formations, rocky areas and steep cliffs.

The Ruta 1: ruta histórica de Sta. Magdalena begins at the local church and passes through fields of dry farming and a ravine on its way to Castillo de Polpís. Two lime kilns and dense vegetation lie along the route. Route 2 runs across dry-stone terraces and dry-stone structures, offering views of the Sierra de Irta, nearby towns and the sea, all the way to the Ermita de Sant Antoni.

The chapel at this destination dates from the 15th century and has a former hostel, stables, an arcaded square and a fountain. The area around the Ermita de Sant Antoni is used for recreation and is suitable for a day trip in direct contact with nature. Route 3 continues through the water-rich area of Mas del Señor to the recreation area La caseta, a replica of a shepherd’s hut built using dry-stone techniques.

The nature park has seven signposted hiking trails and three signposted cycling routes. For cyclists, both the circular cycling route R09 - Peñíscola and the mountain-bike route IR3. Irta totalmente pass through the town: R09 reaches Santa Magdalena de Pulpis at kilometre 142, while IR3 runs here from Peñíscola through the Sierra de Irta. Santa Magdalena de Pulpis preserves an Arab-influenced castle and a Neoclassical church.

Festivals and local traditions

The festival of San Antonio Abad takes place every year on 17 January and is organised by Mayorales appointed annually. The celebrations include a bonfire and a procession. Typical pastries made by local residents are sampled at the festival; the festive activity known as gorra is also part of it.

The Fiestas Patronales include verbenas, festive evening events with music and dancing, as well as bull-related events. The municipality also contains dry-stone structures characteristic of Baix Maestrat, including the Casa del Pastor in the Serra d’Irta.

Getting there

Santa Magdalena de Pulpis can be reached from the province of Castellón and the province of Tarragona via the N-340 and the AP-7.

More destinations to choose from

For your next comparison, you can also consider Benasal, Torre la Sal, Morella, Gaibiel, Portell De Morella, Soneja, Ballestar and Montanejos.

For the higher-level travel overview: Castellon.