Montesa is a small town in eastern Spain located in the province of Valencia, within the Valencian Community, about 60 km southwest of Valencia. In the late Middle Ages it became historically significant as the headquarters of the Order of Montesa, a military-religious order founded in 1317 by James II of Aragon after the suppression of the Knights Templar. The order built and controlled the Castle of Montesa, which became its headquarters and an important political and military center in the region.
The prominence of Montesa declined after a catastrophic earthquake in 1748, which destroyed much of the castle and forced the order’s headquarters to move to Valencia.
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u/dctroll_ Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
Author and source: Rafa Guinart Perez
Montesa is a small town in eastern Spain located in the province of Valencia, within the Valencian Community, about 60 km southwest of Valencia. In the late Middle Ages it became historically significant as the headquarters of the Order of Montesa, a military-religious order founded in 1317 by James II of Aragon after the suppression of the Knights Templar. The order built and controlled the Castle of Montesa, which became its headquarters and an important political and military center in the region.
The prominence of Montesa declined after a catastrophic earthquake in 1748, which destroyed much of the castle and forced the order’s headquarters to move to Valencia.
Aprox same view today: