Viver facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Viver
Town
Skyline of Viver
Coat of arms
Viver Location in Spain
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Valencian Community
Founded	193 BC
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Body	Ayuntamiento de Viver
Area
• Total	44.9 km2 (17.3 sq mi)
Elevation	559 m (1,834 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	1,538
• Density	34.25/km2 (88.72/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Viverense viverense (es)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	12460
Area code(s)	+34 (ES) + 964 (CS)
Patron Saints	Francis of Paola Michael (archangel)

Viver is a charming town located in the Castellón province of Spain. It's part of the Valencian Community, a region on the eastern coast. Viver is found in an area called Alto Palancia.

Discover Viver's Location

Viver covers an area of about 49.9 square kilometers (about 19 square miles). The Palancia River flows through the town. A part of the Calderona mountain range is in the south of the municipality. However, Viver is not inside the Sierra Calderona National Park.

The center of Viver sits on a rocky hill, about 559 meters (1,834 feet) above sea level. The town's buildings are spread out along the side of this hill.

A view of Viver, showing the town's layout.

Viver's Neighborhoods

The municipality of Viver includes five main areas where people live:

• Viver (the main town)
• Masías de Ragudo
• Masías de Parrela
• Masías del Cristo
• Masías del Rio

Nearby Towns

Viver is surrounded by several other towns in the Castellón province. These include Teresa, Torás, Barracas, Pina de Montalgrao, Benafer, and Jérica.

Viver's Rich History

People have lived in the area around Viver for a very long time. Evidence of early human settlements from the paleolithic period has been found in a cave called El Sargal.

The first recorded history of Viver dates back to 193 BC. A Roman leader named Marco Poncio Catón founded a place here called Belsino. Later, its name was changed to Vivarium, which is where the name Viver comes from today.

Between 1237 and 1239, King Jaime I conquered Viver from the Arabs. On April 24, 1244, the King gave Viver the special title of "Real Villa" (royal town). Later, in 1367, a document called the Puebla Letter was granted to the town.

Over time, Viver was returned to the King. In 1537, it was sold to the Duke of Calabria, who was like a governor of Valencia. When the Duke passed away in 1550, he left Viver to the monastery of San Miguel of Reyes in Valencia, which he had founded. The monks then took control of Viver.

During the Spanish Civil War, Viver suffered a lot of damage. After the war, in 1945, the main church was repaired, and many houses were rebuilt.

How Viver is Governed

Viver is run by a mayor and a town council. The current mayor is Patricio Gómez Gómez. He is a member of the Socialist Party of Valencian Country, which is part of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. He was first elected in 2011.

Viver's Town Hall, where local decisions are made.

Viver's Economy

For a long time, Viver's economy was mostly based on farming. Growing vines for grapes was very important. However, in the late 1800s, a disease called phylloxera damaged many grapevines. After this, farmers started focusing more on growing almonds and olives. Viver is known for producing high-quality olives.

More recently, tourism has become important. Many rural guesthouses have been built, attracting visitors who want to enjoy the countryside.

Getting Around Viver

The easiest way to reach Viver by road is using the A-23 highway, which connects Sagunto to Somport. Viver is about 69 kilometers (43 miles) from Valencia and 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Castellón de la Plana. It's also 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Sagunto and 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Teruel.

You can also get to Viver by train. There's a train station called Jérica-Viver, which is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. This station is on the C-5 line, which connects Valencia and Castellón de la Plana.

Fun Festivals in Viver

Viver celebrates many exciting festivals throughout the year!

January Festivities

• Ride Reyes: This happens on January 5th. The "Reyes Magos" (Three Wise Men) arrive in carriages, and there's a parade. At the end, every child gets a gift!
• Saint Anthony: Celebrated on the Saturday and Sunday after January 17th. On Saturday, horse races are held. At night, there's a fun dance party called a verbena. On Sunday morning, a special mass honors Saint Anthony, animals are blessed in the main square, and a special roll of bread is given out.

Spring and Summer Celebrations

• Carnival: This usually takes place in the last week of February. Everyone dresses up in costumes and parades through the streets. Afterward, there's a dance party. If you're in costume, you get in for free!
• Fallas: These celebrations happen on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before March 19th.
• San Francisco de Paula: These festivities are held on the Friday and Sunday of the second week after Easter. People light bonfires, attend Holy Masses, and join processions for San Francisco. A special blessed rice is shared, a tradition from when monks used to celebrate this holiday.
• Feast of the Olive: Usually held in June at La Floresta Park. This fair has over 50 exhibitors, including local shops and cultural groups. It's organized by the City Hall and the Olive Cooperative of Viver.

August and Autumn Events

• August Feast: This takes place throughout August. The first week introduces the festival queen and her court. August 15th is dedicated to Saint Roque. At midnight, there's a verbena (party), and many people stay up all night. At 7:00 AM, people gather at the church square and walk in a procession to the Ermita de San Roque. There's a mass, and a blessed roll is given out. The second to last week of August is a week-long taurine festival (bull-related events).
• Festivities for Saints: These are held between September and October, honoring Saint Michael the Archangel and the Virgin de Gracia.

See also

In Spanish: Viver para niños