Vilafamés, municipality of Valencian Country, Spain
Vilafamés is a small village built on a tall hill in the Sierra de les Conteses with narrow, steep, and winding streets adapted to the terrain. Medieval stone houses with white walls and several churches from the 14th and 16th centuries form the core of the village, reflecting layers of history from Arab times through the Renaissance.
People have lived in this place for about 80000 years, as findings in the Cova de Dalt show, and rock paintings from the Eneolithic period are still visible. After Arab rule, the castle was conquered and settled in 1241 under King Jaime I, later changing hands several times until it became royal property in 1635.
The village preserves local legends, especially the story of the great rock called La Roca Grossa, where people say you can touch it and make three wishes, hoping one will come true. The narrow streets, steep paths, and white stone houses with flowers at the windows show how residents live connected to their history and traditions.
The village is small enough to explore in about half a day, and comfortable shoes are recommended since the streets are steep and narrow. Visitors can park their car at the entrance and walk from there to reach the center, the Plaza de la Font, the churches, and the castle.
A remarkable feature is La Roca Grossa, a huge rock tilted at about 34 degrees, which according to local legend cracked when residents tried to move it with ropes centuries ago. Despite appearing dangerously unstable, it has remained firmly in place and is quite solid.
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