Culla's Rogation to Sant Joan de Penyagolosa

Every Friday and Saturday of Corpus Christi week, Culla fulfills the tradition of its ancestors. The residents of this town of l'Alt Maestrat walk along the path that separates it from Sant Joan de Penyagolosa, to return the next day in what is known as Rogativa de Culla a Sant Joan de Penyagolosa.

The oldest documents that are preserved about this participatory rogation date from 1404, so it is considered one of the oldest in the province of Castellón, and has preserved its rituals 'intact' thanks to popular fervour. This, together with the high ethnological, historical and cultural value it has, was decisive for the Plenary of the Council to approve its declaration as an Asset of Intangible Cultural Interest in April; together with Els Pelegrins de Les Useres. It is also part of the 'Camins del Penyagolosa' project, promoted by the Provincial Council, for Unesco to recognize the pilgrimage routes of the interior of Castellón as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The objective of this type of rogation of medieval origin was always to implore rains that would provide good harvests; as well as God's grace, health and peace, as mentioned in the traditional chant of the 'O Vére Déus' with its request for 'salutem, pacem et pluviam de coelis'.

On Saturday, pilgrims will resume the previous day's journey. At sunset they will arrive at their home, where the procession of Els Pendons, medieval banners of considerable height, and crowds of people will give them a warm welcome in the historic center of the town, also declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2004.