José Martí is looking for European funds to boost the Alcala de Xivert castle as a tourist attraction
In 2021 Castellón Diputación will draw up the lines for the future development of the Alcala de Xivert castle. It will be done by drawing up the final plan, which will be charged “with rescuing from oblivion this architectural jewel and recovering it as a cultural and artistic reference point in the Baix Maestrat and for the whole province of Castellón”. This is how the president of the provincial institution, José Martí, who visited the Alcala and Santa Magdalena castles on 11th December, accompanied by the Culture Deputy, Ruth Sanz, described the work. In parallel with this announcement, Martí confirmed that during next year pre-studies will also begin to give the Polpis castle the same planning document.
Sanz has assured that with these documents, the directives to follow will be set out so that, in the medium and long term, the Polpis and Xivert castles can be converted into one more tourist attraction in these localities in the north of the province. Therefore, “the directive plan will not only concentrate the actions of recuperation and re-evaluation of the walled areas, but also boost cultural and outside promotion” the head of Culture explained, which has found synergies with the Peñíscola castle, to attract activities and tourists to the two walled areas.
The idea of the Diputación is to work throughout next year on the Xivert project and then to further stages with the Polpis project to be able to choose assistance to recover the heritage. “Counting on a clear, detailed document of what we want our castles to be will open the doors for us to notifications such as the cultural 1.5% from the Transports Ministry and the European funds, two lines of finance which would be able to give them a big boost for the recovery of these Cultural Interest Assets” Martí stressed.
80,000 Euros in improvements for 2021
Simultaneously with the work to draw up and pre-plan the master plan, the two forts will receive an investment, of 80,000 euros – 40,000 euros each for improvements to the areas. It should be pointed out that this amount means doubling the budget dedicated to investments this year, which received 40,000 euros to be shared between the two municipalities.
In the case of the Polpis castle. The plan is to install a railing which would prevent falls from the uneven path created following the loss of a wall. “This is a request we have made for many years to the Diputación, the owner of the area, but it has not happened until now when they have responded to our request thanks to the awareness and promise of Ruth Sanz”, Sergio Bou, the mayor of Santa Magdalena said.
On the other hand, Xivert has seen the consolidation of a section of the castle albacar wall, which was recently damaged. Local mayor, Francisco Juan Mars, is grateful for the future provincial intervention “to recuperate one of the principal historic emblems of our locality”.
Both the Polpis and the Xivert fortress form a triangle together with the Peñíscola castle of high interest to lovers of mediaeval history, being three settlement places which belonged to the most influential and powerful Christian military order of the Middle Ages, the Order of the Temple. In this way, it should be mentioned that the “Mirador Templario” route which starts in the papal city, covers over 26 kilometres uniting these three mediaeval and Templar fortresses.
In 2021 Castellón Diputación will draw up the lines for the future development of the Alcala de Xivert castle. It will be done by drawing up the final plan, which will be charged “with rescuing from oblivion this architectural jewel and recovering it as a cultural and artistic reference point in the Baix Maestrat and for the whole province of Castellón”. This is how the president of the provincial institution, José Martí, who visited the Alcala and Santa Magdalena castles on 11th December, accompanied by the Culture Deputy, Ruth Sanz, described the work. In parallel with this announcement, Martí confirmed that during next year pre-studies will also begin to give the Polpis castle the same planning document.
Sanz has assured that with these documents, the directives to follow will be set out so that, in the medium and long term, the Polpis and Xivert castles can be converted into one more tourist attraction in these localities in the north of the province. Therefore, “the directive plan will not only concentrate the actions of recuperation and re-evaluation of the walled areas, but also boost cultural and outside promotion” the head of Culture explained, which has found synergies with the Peñíscola castle, to attract activities and tourists to the two walled areas.
The idea of the Diputación is to work throughout next year on the Xivert project and then to further stages with the Polpis project to be able to choose assistance to recover the heritage. “Counting on a clear, detailed document of what we want our castles to be will open the doors for us to notifications such as the cultural 1.5% from the Transports Ministry and the European funds, two lines of finance which would be able to give them a big boost for the recovery of these Cultural Interest Assets” Martí stressed.
80,000 Euros in improvements for 2021
Simultaneously with the work to draw up and pre-plan the master plan, the two forts will receive an investment, of 80,000 euros – 40,000 euros each for improvements to the areas. It should be pointed out that this amount means doubling the budget dedicated to investments this year, which received 40,000 euros to be shared between the two municipalities.
In the case of the Polpis castle. The plan is to install a railing which would prevent falls from the uneven path created following the loss of a wall. “This is a request we have made for many years to the Diputación, the owner of the area, but it has not happened until now when they have responded to our request thanks to the awareness and promise of Ruth Sanz”, Sergio Bou, the mayor of Santa Magdalena said.
On the other hand, Xivert has seen the consolidation of a section of the castle albacar wall, which was recently damaged. Local mayor, Francisco Juan Mars, is grateful for the future provincial intervention “to recuperate one of the principal historic emblems of our locality”.
Both the Polpis and the Xivert fortress form a triangle together with the Peñíscola castle of high interest to lovers of mediaeval history, being three settlement places which belonged to the most influential and powerful Christian military order of the Middle Ages, the Order of the Temple. In this way, it should be mentioned that the “Mirador Templario” route which starts in the papal city, covers over 26 kilometres uniting these three mediaeval and Templar fortresses.
