Ares del Maestrat
About the place
The village of Ares del Maestrat clings to a steep slope beneath a massive rock formation known as the Mola d'Ares. At the very summit stand the ruins of a medieval frontier castle whose site shows Iberian, Roman and Muslim layers; King James I took it in 1232, and only in 1234 did it pass to the Knights Templar, and later to the Order of Montesa. The urban layout follows the natural contours of the mountain, with stone houses and narrow streets that merge into the gray cliffs. Its position at about 1,150 meters gives one of the most expansive panoramic views over the Maestrazgo landscape. The surrounding area holds significant prehistoric rock paintings and traditional farming terraces carved into the rugged terrain.
