Onda (Castellón)

What you can do and see in Onda

The ceramic tiles industry has determined the life of Onda since the 19th century. The large industrial estate that travellers will possibly encounter when they reach the town will provide a true but partial picture of the town.

In fact, the monument that has marked the life of the town is its castle, known as the “castle of three hundred towers”, as the chronicler Muntaner wrote in the 14th century, because of its numerous turrets and watchtowers. The figure is certainly exaggerated, but not so much if you take into account that Onda, a strategic site for the Iberians, was surrounded by several concentric walls.

The castle has suffered countless modifications and ups-and-downs throughout its history and is built on Iberian, Roman, Muslim and late medieval ruins. Archaeological excavations have revealed the importance of the fortress in the Islamic age and the castle, where guided visits are available, has a centre where some astonishing objects from that time can be seen, such as 12th century Islamic plasterwork.

Before reaching the castle, with its excellent views of the Sierra del Espadán and the Mediterranean Sea, it is worth strolling around the old town, which is a Historical-Artistic Centre. Starting in the old centre, the heart of the medieval town, you can walk through the Christian, Muslim and Jewish quarters that still preserve their medieval character. The Church of the Blood, dedicated to Saint Margaret, is very near Almudín Square. It was built by the Knights Templar in the 13th century and is a good example of the so-called architecture of the Reconquest, a very late Romanesque with incipient Gothic elements. The Church of the Assumption is also nearby, with its Mudejar bell-tower, which is very eclectic and therefore quite interesting, with some altar pieces and domes that are truly curious and worth seeing.

The past of Onda, and probably its future, is also reflected in its skills, which can be enjoyed in the fascinating Municipal Museum of Ceramics and Tiles, which has a collection of over 20,000 objects of all periods.

Finally, you can visit Carmen Natural Sciences Museum, with over 10,000 examples of stuffed animals and plants and minerals, as well as a hundred dioramas, and the ‘Onda Natura’ Nature Interpretation Centre.

You should not miss

• Its castle, which is in itself one of the most important Islamic sites in the Community of Valencia, is also a good setting of medieval stories.

Rev.: JGG 21.09.21