Today, only the keep remains of Montroy Castle. Together with the Church of San Bartolomé, MUVAMEL and the El Peñasco nature area, Montroy offers a range of themes: architectural history, beekeeping and the landscape along the Magro River. FIVAMEL provides another reason to plan a trip, tied to specific dates.
The keep of Montroy Castle
The tower of Montroy Castle is an Almohad military structure of Muslim origin dating from the 12th century. Today, this keep is all that remains of the castle and the wall that surrounded it. The castle had a square ground plan with four thick, load-bearing outer walls. They were built using an Arab stone-and-rammed-earth technique known as “masoneria encajonada.”
Two aspects of the castle stand out: its 12th-century military architecture and the distinctive construction of the complex. Those interested in historic architecture will find a tangible point of reference here, although the former castle complex no longer survives in its entirety.
A 19th-century church
The Iglesia Parroquial de San Bartolomé Apóstol is a neoclassical building dating from the 19th century. Its floor plan follows the shape of a Latin cross; the church has three naves and six side chapels. Two towers stand out on the façade, and a dome rises above the altar.
The church offers a different architectural accent from the keep: here, the design is defined by a neoclassical style and a structured floor plan, while the keep reflects Almohad military architecture. Together, the two provide distinct reference points in Montroy’s architectural history, in terms of both period and design.
Beekeeping at MUVAMEL
MUVAMEL’s permanent exhibition explores the history and development of beekeeping. MUVAMEL is a 360-square-metre space. It also includes an audiovisual room, an interactive play area, a workshop space and a shop selling beekeeping products as well as products made from the work of bees.
MUVAMEL thus combines the history of a craft with a range of exhibition and visitor facilities. If you plan to make use of specific facilities or visit the shop, check visitor arrangements and the product range before your trip.
El Peñasco and FIVAMEL
El Peñasco, a nature area of interest near Montroy along the Magro River, adds a connection to the landscape. It complements the architectural and beekeeping themes with a focus on the surrounding area.
Every year, FIVAMEL fills the squares and streets of Montroy. The exact dates and programmes vary from one edition to the next. If the festival is the main reason for your trip, check the dates of the relevant edition before making plans.
This distinction is useful when choosing a reason to travel: FIVAMEL is tied to each specific edition, while the keep and church are primarily of interest for their architectural history. MUVAMEL focuses on beekeeping; El Peñasco adds the surrounding area along the Magro River. This can help you decide whether a specific festival date or Montroy’s range of historical, cultural and landscape interests will be the deciding factor for your stay.
Discover more destinations: AlgemesĂ, Zarra, Titaguas, Pedralba, Picassent, Quartell, Gátova, La Yesa.
For the wider travel overview: Valencia.
