Castellón de la Plana Hermitage of Saint Mary Magdalene

The Hermitage of Saint Mary Magdalene stands on a hilltop next to remains of a former fortress and features stone walls with simple vaulted passages. The building integrates the natural rock formation as part of its structure, blending natural and constructed elements together.

Construction of this hermitage began in 1451 under a friar from a neighboring monastery and reused materials from an older fortress on the site. The building arose during a period when religious communities planned such retreat spaces across the landscape and adapted existing structures.

The hermitage is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene and contains altars with 14th-century wall paintings inside. These religious images continue to shape the space today and point to its long importance as a place of pilgrimage in the region.

The hermitage is accessible via a marked walking path through a municipal natural park and sits on a hilltop with good views. The walk uphill requires some physical effort and offers little shade along the route.

The building was partly carved into existing rock formations and uses the remains of a former castle cistern beneath it. The hermitage bell tower was built from stone blocks of a medieval defensive tower, showing this resourceful adaptation quite clearly.