The City of Oropesa and Its Castles
Two Spanish towns are called Oropesa, and both have a castle. Oropesa in the province of Toledo is an inland town with a medieval fortress and a counts’ palace. Oropesa del Mar, in the province of Castellón, is a seaside resort with the remains of a Muslim castle and a line of coastal watchtowers. This post describes the castles of both towns, with visiting details for 2026, so that the two are not confused.
Oropesa (Toledo): the old and the new castle
Oropesa stands on a hill between the rivers Tagus and Tiétar, in the area known as Campo Arañuelo. According to the town council, the Romans built a castellum here to control the road between Toledo and Mérida, and under the Caliphate a fortress was raised on its remains. After Alfonso VI took Toledo in 1085 the town passed to the Crown, and Alfonso X granted its first privilege on 25 August 1274. A new fortification followed, and the walled enclosure was enlarged in 1321.
In 1366 Henry II of Castile gave the lordship of Oropesa to García Álvarez de Toledo. His son Fernando and Fernando’s wife, Elvira de Ayala, began rebuilding the old palace and the new castle, and the family lived in Oropesa until the 19th century. Spain’s official tourism site describes a four-sided stone castle with four circular towers, of which two are still standing. It forms part of the counts’ palace complex, which today houses a Parador hotel.
Visiting the castle in 2026
The town council publishes this timetable, in force since September 2026:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 18:00
- Sundays and public holidays: 11:00 to 14:00
- Mondays: closed
The ticket office closes 30 minutes before closing time. Admission costs 3 euros from the age of 8, and younger children enter free. The castle is at Plaza del Palacio 1.
The rest of the town
The council’s list of sights includes the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the chapel of San Bernardo, the counts’ palace, the walls and their gates, and the Hospital de San Juan Bautista, which now holds the tourist office and a museum. A guided walk, the Ruta Monumental, is the only way to see the interiors of several of these buildings. Since 1999 the town has held a medieval festival, the Jornadas Medievales, linked to the April market that Alfonso XI allowed the town to hold. It was declared a festival of regional tourist interest in 2014. More about the town is in the post on Oropesa, Toledo.
Oropesa del Mar (Castellón): castle and watchtowers
Oropesa del Mar lies on the Costa del Azahar, 22 km from Castellón and 95 km from Valencia. Its castle, in the old quarter, was built by the Muslims in the 11th century and was fought over for its strategic position; the local tourist office says it was taken by El Cid and later by King James I. Only remains survive, but the hilltop gives a view over the whole town. Nearby are the chapel of the Virgen de la Paciencia, with 18th-century tiles from Alcora, and the remains of the castle wall.
The best-known monument is on the coast: the Torre del Rey, a fortress built in 1413 by order of King Ferdinand of Antequera to defend the town against pirate attacks. Beside it stands the lighthouse, inaugurated in 1859 and still working. Further south, the Corda and Colomera towers were built in the 16th century to help the Torre del Rey watch the coast. The tourist office offers audio guides for a route through the old quarter and another along the coast.
Festivals
- Early October: the patronal festival in honour of the Virgen de la Paciencia
- 24 June: the night of San Juan, with bonfires and fireworks
- 16 July: the Virgen del Carmen, with a procession of boats
- 25 July: the festival of San Jaime
Coast and countryside
The town has more than 12 kilometres of coast, with sandy beaches and rocky coves. The Vía Verde del Mar, a 6-kilometre path for walkers and cyclists, links Oropesa del Mar with Benicàssim. Inland, trails cross the Serra d’Orpesa and connect with the Desert de les Palmes natural park.
Getting there
- Oropesa del Mar. The N-340 road runs through the town and the AP-7 motorway has its own exit (45). The Renfe station is between the town centre and the beaches. Trains from Valencia’s Estación del Norte towards Tarragona or Barcelona stop there.
- Oropesa (Toledo). The town council’s website links to the current bus timetable.
For students
Either town works as a day or weekend trip. Oropesa (Toledo) is one of the towns and villages near Toledo. Oropesa del Mar combines beaches, the coastal path and the watchtower route, and can be reached by train from Valencia or Castellón. Study options are listed on the Toledo and Castellón city pages.
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