The municipality of Benicàssim includes remains of settlements that take us back to the Metal Ages. The materials found in La Comba and the Mola del Cigalero date from the Neolithic, while the Fontallada burial grounds and the lower layers of the ruins of the Castle belong to the Bronze Age. Its first inhabitants settled at a higher point than where the current town lies, founding the hamlet of Santa Águeda (which became port of Castellón). In 1094, El Cid conquered it from the Muslims, who then recovered it, before being definitively reconquered by James I. In 1603 it was granted a Town Charter. The construction of the Church was the cornerstone of the existing township, gaining municipal district status at the beginning of the 19th century, when it split off from Castellón.
Benicàssim's economy is largely based on the tourism sector and on both first and second homes, as well as a highly-developed services sector.
Calle Sant Tomás is Benicàssim's main street and is where the village comes to life, owing to the multitude of establishments to which it is home: cafés, bars, restaurants, ice cream and perfume shops... It is also home to the Parish Church (1769-1776), a Neoclassical building that is dedicated to Santo Tomás de Villanueva; and we find opposite, the Fuente del Señor fountain. The Desert de les Palmes area is home to the Convento de los Carmelitas Descalzos (a 17th-century Carmelite convent) with a museum and permanent exhibitions of religious objects of historic value, books, relics and the primitive tools with which the friars first began to make the famous Carmelite Liqueur, back in 1896. Up in the Espolón area lie the the remains of the Montornés castle (10th century) while the old San Vicente watchtower (which is extremely well preserved) can be found on the seafront promenade. The coastal area known as Las Villas stands out for its numerous summer homes and mansions from the 19th century, spread out along the Seafront Promenade and preserved thanks to a Special Protection Plan. This costal area is known as Las Villas because, towards the end of the 19th century, a number of summer homes were built here, owned by wealthy families from the Valencian and Castellón bourgeoisie. The first was Villa Pilar, owned by the railway builder, and built in 1887. This was followed by many others, such as Villa Victoria and Villa Elisa, currently owned by the Council and a venue for conferences and workshops, mainly in summer. Some of the other villas have been converted into cafes, such as Villa Ana and Villa María, or fancy restaurants, such as Villa del Mar. The huge boom that Benicàssim experienced at the beginning of the century earned it the nickname of the Biarritz of the Levante. The Plaza de los Dolores, in the heart of Benicàssim, is the meeting point par excellence on summer evenings. Here we can find a variety of places offering the latest musical hits. It has a young, lively atmosphere.
Geographically, Benicàssim is made up of three distinct areas: the town centre, the coastal area (Las Villas), and the Desert de les Palmes. The Villas area is equipped with a full infrastructure for tourists: hotels, restaurants, campsites, clubs, bars and cafés, a rehabilitation centre and a youth hostel. The coastal area is divided into five beaches: Voramar, Almadraba, San Vicente, Els Terrers and Heliopolis, all gently sloping and with fine sand, as well as security, cleaning services, public access points, showers and an entertainment team during the summer months.Over the last few years, these beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status. The Desert de les Palmes, today a listed Natural Site, is home to a wide range of aromatic plants and different species of trees.
Economy
Benicàssim's economy is largely based on the tourism sector and on both first and second homes, as well as a highly-developed services sector.
What to see
Calle Sant Tomás is Benicàssim's main street and is where the village comes to life, owing to the multitude of establishments to which it is home: cafés, bars, restaurants, ice cream and perfume shops... It is also home to the Parish Church (1769-1776), a Neoclassical building that is dedicated to Santo Tomás de Villanueva; and we find opposite, the Fuente del Señor fountain. The Desert de les Palmes area is home to the Convento de los Carmelitas Descalzos (a 17th-century Carmelite convent) with a museum and permanent exhibitions of religious objects of historic value, books, relics and the primitive tools with which the friars first began to make the famous Carmelite Liqueur, back in 1896. Up in the Espolón area lie the the remains of the Montornés castle (10th century) while the old San Vicente watchtower (which is extremely well preserved) can be found on the seafront promenade. The coastal area known as Las Villas stands out for its numerous summer homes and mansions from the 19th century, spread out along the Seafront Promenade and preserved thanks to a Special Protection Plan. This costal area is known as Las Villas because, towards the end of the 19th century, a number of summer homes were built here, owned by wealthy families from the Valencian and Castellón bourgeoisie. The first was Villa Pilar, owned by the railway builder, and built in 1887. This was followed by many others, such as Villa Victoria and Villa Elisa, currently owned by the Council and a venue for conferences and workshops, mainly in summer. Some of the other villas have been converted into cafes, such as Villa Ana and Villa María, or fancy restaurants, such as Villa del Mar. The huge boom that Benicàssim experienced at the beginning of the century earned it the nickname of the Biarritz of the Levante. The Plaza de los Dolores, in the heart of Benicàssim, is the meeting point par excellence on summer evenings. Here we can find a variety of places offering the latest musical hits. It has a young, lively atmosphere.
Landscape
Geographically, Benicàssim is made up of three distinct areas: the town centre, the coastal area (Las Villas), and the Desert de les Palmes. The Villas area is equipped with a full infrastructure for tourists: hotels, restaurants, campsites, clubs, bars and cafés, a rehabilitation centre and a youth hostel. The coastal area is divided into five beaches: Voramar, Almadraba, San Vicente, Els Terrers and Heliopolis, all gently sloping and with fine sand, as well as security, cleaning services, public access points, showers and an entertainment team during the summer months.Over the last few years, these beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status. The Desert de les Palmes, today a listed Natural Site, is home to a wide range of aromatic plants and different species of trees.
