Villastar
NOT TO BE MISSED
Complement your visit with:
Entrench:
From Water to Sulphur – go to page
Between watercourses and hiding places – go to page
Just one step away – go to page
Go with the flow – go to page
Atrinchérate:
Villel, Fortines del Plano – go to page
Andatela:
Sendero del Agua – go to page
Sendero de Puntos Singulares hiking trail – go to page
Route of Amanaderos – go to page
Alto de la Molina hiking trail – go to page
Services:
Inhabitants: 505
Altitude: 867 m.
Demonym: Villastarense
How to get there?
It is 10 kilometres from Teruel, on the N-330, next to the River Turia. See map
NATURAL HERITAGE
Landscapes on the banks of the River Turia.
Javalambre mountain range.
Routes:
Peñalba Sanctuary hiking trail
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
Church of Santa Engracia, 18th century, Baroque style. The church has three covered naves, the central one with a half barrel vault with lunettes and the lateral ones with groin vault. The tower has a first section of stonework and a second octagonal section made of brick.
Hermitage of San Antonio, 18th century, popular style. Hermitage with a nave and a hipped roof. Made of masonry, it has a whitewashed façade. The primitive atrium is partitioned and has a belfry at the top.
The defensive tower, probably from the 13th century (private property). Located three kilometres from the village and integrated into a farmhouse, it is a brick and rammed earth construction, crowned by battlements.
Linked to the old farmhouse of “Bellestar”, its construction was established between the end of the twelfth century (1196) and the beginning of the second half of the thirteenth century (1267), in connection with the Templar encomienda of Villel. Given its characteristics, the monument is declared a Property of the Aragonese Cultural Heritage.
The medieval history of Villastar is linked to that of Villel, of which it was a village, together with Cascante del Río, Riodeva, Tramacastiel and Valacloche. In 1196, the Order of Monte Gaudio merged with the Order of the Temple, when Villel and its villages passed to the Templars.
The tower is located downstream of the river Turia, in a farmhouse next to the N-330 road between Teruel and Villastar. It gives the impression of being located in the context of a fortified farmhouse; however, the buildings surrounding the tower are of different invoice and factory much later.
It has a rectangular plan (6×5 meters), partially plastered walls and brick in the corners, about 15 meters high. Two old high entrance doors (with semicircular arches) are visible, now covered. Looking at the type of bricks in the corners, it can be deduced that the tower was erected at two different construction times. Behind the tower there are several arcades and brick machons integrated into the western wall of one of the buildings of the annexed farmhouse, which could well correspond to a contemporary construction of the tower.
Celtic sanctuary at Peñalba where several stone engravings have been preserved. There is an inscription from the 1st century BC, which refers to a country festival dedicated to Lugus, the god Pancelta.
A 20th century mansion, a house located next to the road with one of the gable façades, and with a small dovecote on the roof. The façade is made of stone and rendered after restoration. It is decorated in all its openings. During the Civil War it was a military barracks.
FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS
San Antón, 16th January, with the traditional bonfires.
Santa Engracia and Santo Cristo del Consuelo, at the beginning of May. These are the patron saint festivals.
San Joaquín and San Roque, at the end of August. (On the day of San Roque there is the typical Baile del Chuzo and de la Bandera).