Morella Fair in Morella

Morella Fair

Morella Fair is held on the second weekend of September. Livestock farming has always played a major role in the lives of the people of Morella, as well as throughout the Ports region. The fruits of the land have been processed for industry by the men and women of the countryside through family-run farms.

History

For centuries, the nearly four hundred farmhouses in the municipality of Morella have depended on the annual agricultural cycle: sowing, harvesting, the fruits of the land, the production of flour, bread, wine… And also on the life cycle of the animals: grazing, slaughter, the production of cheese and preserves, and wool—a resource that enriched Morella, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when it was home to a major textile industry.

Upon settling in this region in the 13th century, King James I of Aragon strongly supported trade and livestock farming, and made a decision that forever shaped the importance of Morella. The city holds the privilege granted by the monarch on March 6, 1256, which authorized the people of Morell to hold a weekly market and an annual livestock fair. However, there is evidence of commercial activity prior to this date.

The Fira de Morella remains a major commercial hub and one of the most important gathering events for Castellón and the neighboring regions of Aragon and Catalonia, having also become a tourist attraction. The fair stretches along the Paseo de la Alameda, featuring hundreds of booths showcasing products from the agricultural and livestock sectors, the agri-food industry, and artisanal goods.