La Mola, castle and Clock Tower of Monroyo

The castle of Monroyo, strategically situated on a plateau of difficult access, has its origins as a Muslim alcázar. The first written mentions date from the Middle Ages, after the Christian conquest in 1169. This formidable stronghold became the seat of an extensive domain under the control of the Order of Calatrava from 1209 onwards, encompassing nine current municipalities of the region, including Monroyo, Peñarroya, Torre de Arcas, Herbés, el Boixar, Benifassà, Fredes, Fórnoles, Ráfales and Belmonte.

Within its walled precinct stood the church of Santa María de la Mola, from the 12th century, which served as the main church until the 13th century, when the construction of the current temple in the lower part of the village was authorised.

An oral legend tells of the disappearance of the castle of Monroyo. Tradition suggests that its stones were reused for the reconstruction of the village after various fires, the last of which was the most serious, destroying a large part of the historic centre of Monroyo.

Unfortunately, today only a few remains are preserved, such as the bassa del castell, where the water tanks are located, a cistern carved out of the rock, and vestiges of the base of the walls in the northern area.

The main reason for its destruction is attributed to three major fires: the first in 1705 during the War of the Spanish Succession, and the remaining two during the Carlist Wars. The most devastating occurred in 1839, when the troops of the Carlist general Llagostera burned down most of the historic centre, earning its inhabitants the nickname of "sucarrats".