Medieval castles in Andalusia
Sohail Castle
Sohail Castle was built in AD 956 by Abd-ar-Rahman III to strengthen the coastal defenses. Later, in the 12th century, the Almoravids raised a defensive enclosure with an irregular floor plan, adapted to the slopes of the terrain. In 1485 the Castillo de Sohail was occupied by the Christian armies battling against the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. From that time the military complex underwent an inevitable process of arc ...
Founded: 956 AD |
Location:
Fuengirola, Spain
Saint Catherine's Castle
Saint Catherine"s Castle (Castillo de Santa Catalina) is a castle that sits on the Cerro de Santa Catalina overlooking the Spanish city of Jaén. It is now the site of a parador. The castle began as a Moorish fortress in the 8th century, later improved by the Nasrid ruler of the Emirate of Granada, Abdallah ibn al-Ahmar (who also built the Alhambra). Earlier, where the parador now stands, there was a towe ...
Founded: 8th century AD |
Location:
Jaén, Spain
Carmona Castle
The Moorish fortress or Alcazar of Carmona rises above the Puerta de Sevilla (Gate of Seville), forming an almost impregnable defensive complex. It underwent major alterations in the 14th and 15th centuries. Theestoration work carried out between 1973 and 1975 included the refurbishing of several sections as venues for staging cultural events. Puerta de Sevilla origin dates back to the 9th century BC. The Carthaginians c ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Carmona, Spain
Zahara de la Sierra Castle
Zahara de la Sierra Castle is actually a six-hectare area on the rocky hill, known as the Villa Arabe or Villa Medieval; its crowning glory is the Homage Tower. The town was originally a Moorish outpost, overlooking the valley. Due to its position between Ronda and Seville, it was a perfect site for a castle to be built to serve as a fortress in case of attack. The path starts at the car park on the roof of Hotel de la V ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Zahara de la Sierra, Spain
El Moral Castle
El Moral Castle is located in the heart of the historic town centre of Lucena. It was originally built by the Moorish califate of Al-Andalus in the 9th century on the site of Roman and Visigoth remains. Later the castle was the headquarters of the 'donceles', a military body and group of elite nobles serving King Ferdinand the Catholic. The Keep was where King Boabdil was held prisoner after being captured in th ...
Founded: 9th century AD |
Location:
Lucena, Spain
Luna Castle
Luna castle dates from the 13th century and was built under control of 'Guzmán the Good' upon a fortified convent of ribat or Muslim origin, in the 11th century. It is rectangular with five crenelated towers, and its interior is structured around a central courtyard. Property of the Dukes of Arcos, the Ponce de León used the castle as a residence and there is evidence that the Catholic Monarchs visited th ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Rota, Spain
San Marcos Castle
San Marcos Castle is a 12th-century fortress, commissioned by Alfonso X 'The Wise' upon the remains of a Moorish mosque on the banks of Guadalete River. Despite being so old (800 years), the castle is preserved in perfect conditions of use. Cultural events, conferences, lunches or dinners can be held both inside or outside in the garden, for up to 300 people. The inside of the old mosque is an ideal place for ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
El Puerto de Santa María, Spain
Archidona Castle
The Castle of Archidona was built by the Arabs in the 9th century and rebuilt by Alhamar, the first Nasrid king, in the 13th century. In 1462 Archidona was conquered by the Conde de Osuna, beginning to expand outside the walls to occupy the area it currently has. After the Christian conquest, the new population center and its most prominent urban representation in the Plaza Ochavada, the 18th century curious octagonal sha ...
Founded: 9th century AD |
Location:
Archidona, Spain
Iznájar Castle
Castillo de Iznájar is an 8th-century castle perched on the high ridge. It has a triangular design, truncated on the northeast side, with its longest side facing south, and a large central space. It is surrounded by a stretch of wall with flanking towers at the southeast and southwest corners. The east side is closed by a rectangular building, which is attached to the west with a pentagonal tower at the bow, and another ...
Founded: 8th century AD |
Location:
Iznájar, Spain
Montefrio Castle
The ruins of a Moorish castle sit near the highest point of Montefrio. Being built midway between the Sierra de Priego and Sierra Parapanda, and commanding the open valley between these ranges, it became one of the chief frontier fortresses of the Moors in the 15th century. The castle was rebuilt by Catholic conquerors in 1507.
Founded: 15th century |
Location:
Montefrío, Spain
Alcaudete Castle
Castillo de Alcaudete was built by the Arabs over the remains of a previous Roman fortification and taken by the Christians in 1085 during the reign of Alfonso VI. For almost three hundred years thereafter, the castle kept changing hands until 1340 when the Christians took it over. The design is polygon in shape, adjusted to the terrain escarpments. The structure is surmounted by six towers, including the Tower of Homage ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Alcaudete, Spain
La Iruela Castle
The castle of La Iruela, small but astonishing, is located on the top of a steep crag in Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park. From the castle, impressive views of the surrounding area and of the town can be enjoyed. The keep dates from the Christian era. It has a square base and small dimensions and is located at the highest part of the crag. There are some other enclosures within the tower that create a ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
La Iruela, Spain
Alcázar del Rey Don Pedro
This Alcazar or Moorish fortress is situated to the west of the walled town on the highest point of Carmona. Peter I had it restored in the 13th century, and it became one of his favourite palaces. The Catholic Monarchs erected the circular tower and embellished the royal quarters. It was seriously affected by the 1755 earthquake and, since then, it has been progressively falling into ruin. The ruins of this Alcazar sur ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Carmona, Spain
Santiago Castle
Castle of Santiago was built in the second half of the 15th century by the 2nd Duke of Medina Sidonia. It was not designed for military or surveillance purposes. Therefore, it can be considered as a demonstration of power of the Duchy. Throughout its history, it has functioned as a ducal fortress and barracks. After almost a century of neglect and suffering serious damage from a fire, it was completely remodelled.
Founded: 15th century |
Location:
Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain
Alcalá de los Gazules Castle
All that remains of the 12th-century Moorish castle in Alcalá de los Gazules is the Homage Tower. The castle served as a defensive structure until 1810 when it was ransacked by the occupying French army. The castle has been restored and the interior of the tower can be visited from Thursday to Sunday 11.30 to 14.00.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Alcalá de los Gazules, Spain
Zuheros Castle
Zuheros Castle is a small fortress, nestled in rock, occupies a privileged position. Founded by the Arabs in the ninth century, the current appearance was probably built in the 11th or 12th century when the area was ruled by the Zirid dynasty. It now houses the remains of a Renaissance-style palace.
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Zuheros, Spain
Monturque Castle
When Monturque Castle was exactly built is unknown. Archaeological findings suggests it was built during the reign of the Ummayad Caliphate (661–750 AD) on Roman remains. The Castle was conquered by Ferninand III in 1240, and for a long time thereafter its ownership passed intermittently between the Crown and Nobility. One early record of this is from 1273, when half of the Monturque tower was awarded by Martin Sanchez ...
Founded: 8th century AD |
Location:
Monturque, Spain
Burgalimar Castle
Burgalimar Castle was built in the 10th century under the rule of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba. A marble inscription plaque found at the entrance of the castle records the date of its construction as 967 AD, during the reign of the caliph Al-Hakam II, who is also named in the inscription. The marble plaque is now kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid. The castle was built as a military base and garri ...
Founded: 967 AD |
Location:
Baños de la Encina, Spain
Alcazaba of Guadix
Alcazaba of Guadix was built in the 11th century during the Moorish Nasrid reign. It was conquered by the Spanish Christian army in 1489. The Seminary, founded in 1595, one of the oldest in Spain. The Seminary is built around two courtyards. From its towers one can enjoy a fabulous view of the valley and Sierra nevada.
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Guadix, Spain
Cerro San Cristobal
From the Alcazaba, descend in a northward direction through the Barranco de la Hoya, a line of wall that reaches San Cristobal Hill was built during the time of King Jairán (1012-1028) in the eleventh century. Here are the remnants of the neighbourhood amurallamiento musalla, which descends from the hill via the main street Antonio Vico. On the hill, known in Muslim times as Monte Laham, there are seven towers, three s ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Almería, Spain