A Walk Through the Village of Costilla de Villamalefa

Hello everyone. Today I’d like to take you to a very small village located in the mountainous part of the province of Castellón. In fact it’s so small that there isn’t even a grocery store in the village. This is Costilla de Villamalefa. There may be no shop, but there is a very nice bar-restaurant that everyone knows. There is also a pharmacy and around 100 people live here. On the day we visited, there was a cycling race taking place, so cars were parked everywhere.

In winter, spring and autumn, many cycling races are held all over Spain. Mountainous regions are especially popular because there is very little traffic. Villages are connected to one another, but each usually has only 100 to 200 residents. This makes cycling safer, with fewer cars on the road. The roads are mountain roads but generally in good condition and perfect for those who want to challenge themselves. On top of that, the scenery is beautiful.

We walked past the pharmacy. A healthcare worker also comes here on certain days and at specific times to provide basic medical consultations. Of course, in places like this, a large part of the population consists of retirees. For people living in such villages, going to see a doctor is not always easy. If I remember correctly, there is only one bus a day from here. I believe it goes once daily to Castellón de la Plana, the provincial capital. The distance is about 40 to 50 kilometers, but because the roads are mountainous, the journey is not very fast.

Later we went up to the restaurant terrace, which offers wonderful views. Green Castellón and forests everywhere. Mountain goats, foxes and various small animals live here. There are also rabbits and roe deer. However, there are no dangerous animals like wolves or bears in this area.

Then we started walking around the village. By the way, there is also a place to stay here that offers accommodation for tourists. People usually come for hiking or cycling around the area. There are many marked trails and routes shown on information boards. So there is a place to stay and a place to eat. Moreover, Costilla de Villamalefa is a municipal center, meaning it has its own local administration. There is no school and children are transported to schools in other places.

Some people live here year-round, while others come on weekends or during holidays. Those who have family homes visit in summer, on weekends or during vacation periods. This is quite common in the villages of Castellón and Aragon, where villages are almost used like summer houses.

We walked toward the center and the church. Of course, there is a church. I really love streets like these and always take photos of them. Flowers, plants and stone houses create a completely traditional setting. In the background, I could hear a Spanish woman calling out to her neighbor. People come to the door and call to one another and everything feels very natural. One house was for sale. I had seen a listing on Idealista for around 32,000 euros. But in places like this, you really need to research prices on site. My advice to anyone looking for a house in a village is simple: go there, see it in person, talk to people and visit the town hall.

Then we came across a surprise spot. The finish line of the cycling race was going to be here. Music was playing and everyone was waiting for the cyclists. We continued walking around the village. There is also a vineyard here. Homemade wine is made and consumed locally. Locals sometimes drink the wine plain and sometimes mix it with soda. There are fig trees and figs are very common here. Almond trees are common as well. You can easily see these in this part of Spain.

The name Costilla de Villamalefa sounds like it refers to a castle, but in fact there is no castle. There are only ruins and even those are mostly gone. The name remains. The village itself still stands and the views cover almost the entire settlement. Everything is mountainous, green and immersed in nature. The streets run parallel to each other, with some located lower and others higher.

In terms of services, there is a municipal outdoor swimming pool that is open in summer. Both locals and visitors can use it, either with a subscription or by paying for a single entry. There is also a children’s playground higher up. While walking, we saw stacks of firewood. Some people still heat their homes with wood. This is something you can still see in Spanish villages today. Some people use bottled gas, some electricity and others different methods. There are also people who heat their homes and even cook with wood, especially on weekends.

The streets are spotless. The houses come from different periods. There are stone houses from the early 20th century, some that were later renovated or covered, buildings from the 1930s and more modern ones as well. In older houses, the windows are usually very small. This is a characteristic feature and was probably designed to keep the interiors warm.

We walked around a bit more and watched the cyclists passing by. When we got hungry, we sat down and had a snack. The restaurant prices were quite reasonable. It was getting dark. I’m saying goodbye for today. We wandered around and discovered new places. I wish you all the very best.