In terms of architecture, the grandiose wealth of styles ranges from the Romanesque of Castelfort, to Valencian Modernism, notably represented in Castellón
The endless network of museums the province is blessed with is a loyal testimony to a cultural wealth where the traditional is combined with the innovative, and the most recent trends coexist with beloved folklore. In this way, the counties of Castellón boast a valuable musical and literary heritage as well as abundant artistic and cultural offerings, about which you can find out more over the following pages.
In the city of Castellón a modern and spacious building houses the Museum of Fine Arts (Museu de Belles Arts), where an analysis of the material evolution of provincial architecture, from the Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages is offered. Its magnificent collection of ceramics also stands out; canvases and sculptures of the charterhouse Vall de Crist, in addition to an interesting collection of 17th century paintings.
This museum is part of the Castellón Cultural project, which also the Area of Contemporary Art (Espai d'Art Contemporani) is part of. The latter devotes its facilities to the most recent contemporary art exhibitions.
The Museum of Ethnology (Museo Etnológico) is in the Sant Jaume de Fadrell Hermitage. It brings together objects used in this area for the different activities and trades that have made up the life and economy of the city.
Morella, in addition to offering an impressive Archpriestal church, has in its museum a great number of high-quality pieces: Renaissance reliefs, Gothic sculptures, gold and silverware, and 16th century Gothic panels. Along with this museum, which is the oldest in the city, Morella has created a series of exposition areas beneath the epigraph Museus de Morella. They are devoted to the history of the city, photography, palaeontology (with a good collection of dinosaur remains), Sexenni fiestas, etc.
The Museum of Natural Science in Onda (Museo de Ciencias Naturales) has varied contents: botany, zoology, anthropology, numismatics, palaeontology, old weapons, etc. In the city's Local Museum of Ceramic Pieces and Tiles (Museo Municipal de Cerámica y Azulejo) the exposition of more than 3,000 tiles from Onda stands out.
On the other hand, in L'Alcora we find the Museum of Ceramics (Museo de la Cerámica de L'Alcora) which exhibits ceramic pieces running right through the history of ceramics, from the 18th century to the present day.
The Cathedral Museum of Segorbe (Museo Catedralicio de Segorbe) possesses the best collection of Valencian Gothic painting, with pieces by Jacomart, Osona, Nicolás Camarón and Pere Nicolau, amongst others.
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Vilafamés (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Vilafamés), founded in 1960 and housed in the so-called Casa del Batlle, a grand 15th century house, is outstanding. There works by some of the most famous contemporary Spanish painters: Chillida, Miró, Cuixart, Canogar, etc. can be contemplated.
On the ground floor of Jérica's Town Hall one will find the Local Museum which stands out, above all, for the exposition of Roman era tombstones.
The local and archaeological ethnology of the area is shown off at the Regional Museum of Archaeology of La Plana Baixa (Museo Arqueológico Comarcal), found at the Merced Convent. It has an excellent collection of archaeological pieces, from the Neolithic to the Iberian world. Furthermore, in Burriana the Orange Museum (Museo de la Naranja) was recently inaugurated.
Traiguera offers Roman ceramics, antique wood-carved altarpieces, and an important collection of gold and silverware, as well as several Gothic chalices, reliquaries and an impressive monstrance created by Juan Olcina in 1415.
In Peñíscola one can visit the Sea Museum (Museo del Mar), which reflects the maritime tradition of these lands.
One of the most interesting collections of quaternary rock art are the paintings of Valltorta where one can contemplate retouches and additions which take in the period which stretches from 8000 to 2000 BC, or from the Mesolithic to the Eneolithic. These paintings, declared a World Heritage Site, may be visited, leaving from the Museum of La Valltorta.
The Casa de Polo in Vila-real also has a special appeal because there one finds the Local Museum, with various bequests from noted Vila-real artists, of which the room dedicated to the distinguished guitarist Francisco Tárrega stands out.
Nules presents us with the Museum of Medals (Museo de Medallística Enrique Giner), with an important collection of commemorative medals of every type and sculptures; in this town you will also find an interesting ethnological museum.
