History of Vila-real

Before the town

The surroundings hold Eneolithic, Iberian and Roman remains. The Muslim occupation of the Plana de Burriana left place names and farmsteads, but today's city does not exist as such until the Christian conquest.

A royal town

James I founded Vila-real on 20 February 1274 to consolidate the newly conquered land next to Borriana. From the start it was a «royal town»: it had a seat in the Cortes and the Diputación of the Kingdom, and the right to the royal four-barred banner.

Early modern period

In the 15th and early 16th centuries there were clashes with neighbouring Mudéjars, and the town took an active part in the Germanías. In the 16th century Friar Pascual Baylón died in the Rosario convent, and his tomb stirred great devotion. Between 1566 and 1675 the irrigated farmland was extended. In 1706, in the middle of the War of the Spanish Succession, there was a fight at the walls with more than five hundred dead, and in the 18th century the population quadrupled and the first textile industries appeared.

Oranges and ceramics

In the second half of the 19th century commercial orange growing took off. After the Civil War local businessmen set up tile factories, today the main source of income. In 1938 the city was renamed Villarreal de los Infantes; in 1982 the bilingual form Villarreal/Vila-real returned, and in 2006 only Vila-real was officially adopted. Alqueries split off in 1985.

Heritage

Notable sights include the basilica of San Pascual, the archpriest church of San Jaime, the Santa Quiteria bridge, the Plaza de la Vila and the Motxa tower.

Timeline

20 February 1274

James I founds Vila-real.

1566-1675

Irrigated farmland extended.

1706

Fighting at the walls in the War of the Spanish Succession.

1938

Renamed Villarreal de los Infantes.

1985

Alqueries splits from Vila-real.

2006

The name Vila-real is officially adopted.