Nothing they say is an understatement

 We are entering Castell de Castells.  Were you expecting high towers, deep dungeons and wide walls. I am afraid not.



Apparently we are near the highest peak in the Serrella mountains, Mall de Llop, which is about 1300m up.  There are the remains of a castle from the Moorish period.  But not here.  They have a museum open at weekends, apparently.




The Aragonese conquest saw the village handed over to the Order of Calatrava. Later the inhabitants of antiquity were exiled and replaced with people from the Balearics.  Currently 444 people live here.  In 1900 1451 souls dwelled here.  The number has steadily declined since then.




Castles has a cafe, and we are going to visit Ca Joan.  4.6 stars come from 238 reviewers.  Top comments are tapas -15, aubergines - 11 and dessert - 9.  A month ago Paula said ‘It has been a spectacular gastronomic experience. Kindness and very pleasant atmosphere. We will be back soon!!’.   Juliet gets to the point. ‘I had a lovey smoked aubergine with goat cheese.’.




We might as well pop in Carnisseria Miquel.  46 reviewers give it 4.8 stars.  Marbelys was fulsome, a month ago. ‘My experience at the butcher shop was wonderful. My partner and I camped at the Castell campsite, and we'd seen beforehand that we could buy barbecue meat there, and the reviews had caught our attention. Needless to say, nothing they say is an understatement. Mary Carmen is a sweetheart! And the sausages she makes herself are the best I've ever eaten. The spicy chorizo, the sweet chorizo, the white sausage, and the blood sausage are simply delicious. And the pork belly and loin are no less impressive! It's a shame we don't live closer so we can come here every weekend to shop. I swear, they're the best. ❤️’


We will leave the town and trudge upwards again.













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