  We use a recent characterization of minimal value set polynomials and $q$-
Frobenius nonclassical curves to construct curves that generalize the Hermitian
curve. The genus $g$ and the number $N$ of $\mathbb{F}_q$-rational points of
the curves are computed and, for a special family of these curves, we determine
the Weierstrass semigroup at the unique point at infinity. These special curves
yield new examples of Castle curves and improve on a previous example of
Garcia-Stichtenoth of curves with large ratio $N/g$.
