PORTELL
MEDIEVAL ESSENCE
Portell, as its name in Valencian suggests, refers to the entrance or portelló from Aragon to Valencia, reaching Morella through the mountain range of El Cardo. The location of the town has led to establish settlements since Prehistory. In the town center, it stands the Castle declared Asset of Cultural Interest, which was part of a network of defensive constructions surrounding the town and culminating with the rooms of lords and territorial governments. Currently, although some sections of the wall can be seen, the most important fortification is the castle. Its main tower is nowadays the bell tower of the church. Its greatest charm that it preserves its medieval origins, with narrow and long streets and an impressive porticoed square. Outside the village, we find natural surroundings of valuable interest, as El Bovalar and La Rambla de Celumbres. Here we can see the medieval bridge, too. Alongside the river of La Cuba we find the uninhabited borough of Les Alberedes, where the church of Sant Marc is placed.
A MEDIEVAL WALL
PORTELL
Castle: Some sections of the powerful medieval wall and some tower still remain, but the most interesting asset is the main tower, currently the belfry of the church, and the small bullring, which is integrated in the parade ground.
Assumpció Church: this church consecrated to the Assumption is integrated throughout the castle. Built in the 18th century, Baroque style with neoclassical façade.
La rambla bridge: this medieval bridge that crosses the ravine known as La Rambla Celumbres is a setting of great beauty. It already existed in 1212 and everything suggests a Roman origin. It has one eye, barrel vault, built with masonry stone.
La nostra Senyora de l’Esperança hermitage: from the 15th and 16th centuries, this shrine is a building with a single nave with a groin vault starred in two tranches, nerves and without pillars.
MUSEUMS
PORTELL
Textile Museum of Portell: Located in the complex of La Rosaleda Museum, this museum is about the history of textile in the town and “els faixeros” who exported the sashes throughout the peninsula. Currently, the textile industry remains an essential pillar in the town, with factories dedicated to that task.
Portell, Porta Templària: Tour through the presence of the military-religious Templar order in the town.
LANDSCAPES
IN PORTELL
Rambla de Celumbres: this ravine is a landscape of an authentic beauty and uniqueness among Cinctorres, Portell and Castellfort. It stands out because of its diverse biodiversity and the rock formations of La Roca Parda, La Roca Roja and La Roca del Corb, crossed by the river.
Les Alberedes: Uninhabited borough on la Cuba’s river, consisting of thirty buildings. It retains its original structure and its homes, which give it a special charm and make it an excellent testimony of the passage of time and the rural life of the 20th century. Here we find the Gothic shrine of Sant Marc, from the 13th and 14th centuries.
FESTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS
Peregrins de Portell
With medieval origins, this tradition maintains mysticism, religion and thoroughness in its rules. It says the legend, that the event of the peregrins, has its origin in the journey of 12 men, who walked to Rome to ask the Pope to be blessed in order to bring health and water to the town of Portell. Only one of them returned 14 years later, with the mandate to go to the chapel of St. Pere in Castellfort. Since then, 12 pilgrims from the town separated by 50 steps, carry out a silent pilgrimage to Sant Pere in Castellfort and return in the afternoon. On their arrival, the people from Portell are waiting with the bases and flags of the parish and go in procession to the church.
Date: May-June.
Sant Marc
Pilgrimage to the shrine of Les Alberedes, which receives the procession with bases and pedestals and performing a mass and a bell ringing. It is a day of celebration and cohabitation for the entire town.
Date: Weekend after the 25th of April
Sant Antoni
Main celebration of winter
Date: closest weekend to the 17th of January
Local festivities
In honour of L’Assumpció, Sant Tomás de Villanueva and Sant Roc. With dancing, bullfighting events, festivals, parades, performances and so on. It is the peak moment of participation of the whole year.
Date: Week of the 15th of August
