Castellar is located between the residential area of La Ermita and the peak of “ La Bandera ”. It is a mountain formed by vertical walls, except for its north face. Place, through which you have access to its top.
Thanks to this natural fortification, it was once an ideal place to settle. That was what the Iberians had to think, because the remains of a town on its top are still preserved today.
Years ago, it was a very popular place to practice winter climbing. You saw the mountain from afar, full of colors because of the striking clothes that climbers usually wear. There were also several accidents in this climbing area.
We will start this excursion from the Pegata bar of La Ermita . Entering the road we must take the street that borders the Pegata bar on its left side. Then turn right and again to the left to enter a stony path that will take us to the base of Castellar in just 10 minutes.
Once there we will be impressed by the proximity of the flag peak and its caves, which must have housed some of our ancestors during the Paleolithic. There was an old way to climb to La Bandera . I guess it must be deprecated, of course I have never used it. But it would be wonderful to come up here and then go to Pelma or Gestalgar .
Looking at the area where we are we will see a power line with its relevant firewall that reaches almost all the way to Castellar . I have not used this path but I guess it will be complicated. With multiple coscojas and other plants with pointed leaves scratching your knees.
The road we are going to follow is part of an area with multiple hives. Normally, nothing happens with bees. But, just in case you should not lower your guard. The path, rather path, goes up to Castellar on the left side until we get to cut the power line. From there I have not found a clear path. But it is not too complicated to break through. The ground is almost all rock. Scorched by the typical Mediterranean vegetation and some rupícola species. Soon we will arrive at the area where the remains of the Iberian town are seen. One of the Iberian enclaves that Chulilla has in its municipal district. It seems incredible that 3000 years ago there were people living there. The remains of the town are not many. The remains of the walls are intuited, of course, of a great thickness and little else. It is also appreciated that excavations have been carried out in the area or at least I thought so.
From the summit of Castellar we have a different view of the Turia orchard, the road to the spa and la Muela .
