With a rich history, as evidenced by its Medieval monuments, this town was given to Bernat Monçó to settle by Blasco de Alagón. Livestock and agriculture, as well its proximity to Morella, allowed La Mata to thrive all through the Middle Ages, until the crisis that engulfed the whole of the Maestrazgo also struck La Mata.
La Mata's economy is based on livestock (the raising of pigs, cattle and sheep) and agriculture (cereal farming). Other sectors include construction, handmade sandals and other services.
What to see
Its streets are narrow and winding. Walking through the town you get a sense of the municipality's importance in the past, reflected in the existence of several stately homes, such as the Casa Palacio de los Pedro and La Figuera, the Casa Cremada, Casa Palacio de los Vallés, as well as the Town Hall, the Mesón de la Vila (Town Inn) or the Parish Church. Outside the town centre, you can admire the Molí Punta farm house (16th-century) with a four-floor square tower, the Sant Cristòfol hermitage, the Torre Guillermo farm house (18th-century), the hermitages of Santa Bárbara (14th-century), Sant Gil and Sant Antoni, as well as the Calvary.
La Mata is located on the left bank of the river Cantavieja, 826 m above sea level. Its main mountains are the Tossal and San Pedro, covered with thick layers of oak, cork and shrubs. The rivers Cantavieja and La Cuba run through the territory.
Economy
La Mata's economy is based on livestock (the raising of pigs, cattle and sheep) and agriculture (cereal farming). Other sectors include construction, handmade sandals and other services.
What to see
Its streets are narrow and winding. Walking through the town you get a sense of the municipality's importance in the past, reflected in the existence of several stately homes, such as the Casa Palacio de los Pedro and La Figuera, the Casa Cremada, Casa Palacio de los Vallés, as well as the Town Hall, the Mesón de la Vila (Town Inn) or the Parish Church. Outside the town centre, you can admire the Molí Punta farm house (16th-century) with a four-floor square tower, the Sant Cristòfol hermitage, the Torre Guillermo farm house (18th-century), the hermitages of Santa Bárbara (14th-century), Sant Gil and Sant Antoni, as well as the Calvary.
Landscape
La Mata is located on the left bank of the river Cantavieja, 826 m above sea level. Its main mountains are the Tossal and San Pedro, covered with thick layers of oak, cork and shrubs. The rivers Cantavieja and La Cuba run through the territory.
