Xiquena Castle, Lorca, Spain - SpottingHistory.com

The ruined castle of Xiquena is located in Fontanares, hamlet of the town of Lorca. Many authors argue that the name Xiquena comes from the Arabic Gikena or Gehenna and that it means 'hell'. On the other hand, others attribute a Roman origin to it due to a nearby farm.

Xiquena Castle was founded during Muslim rule over the area, certainly before the 13th century, but maybe even as early as the 10th century.

The incorporation of the Muslim Taifa of Murcia in 1243 into the Castilian kingdom, made these lands part of a large and hostile frontier area between the Kingdom of Castile and the Emirate of Granada. Xiquena Castle remained in Muslim hands and became a lonely sentinel in a virtual no man's land.

The castle, built on a small hill near the Corneros River, has an irregular plan and from it you can see the castles of Tirieza, Puentes, Vélez Rubio and Vélez Blanco.

References:

second.wiki

User Reviews

Mark De Backer (7 months ago)
An ideal stopover on the way to Vélez-Rubio. High on the hill you can see the ruins from afar.

ramon ramon (7 months ago)
Nice place but very degraded and in a few years nothing will remain standing if they do not maintain it.

isabel martos (7 months ago)
Beautiful place to do a route. It is a pity that they do not preserve the ruins that remain, because if it continues like this it will deteriorate in a few years and will be irretrievable.

Fran J Martínez (17 months ago)
Very easy access for children. You have to be careful around the highest tower, since from behind it overlooks a ravine and has a false well between the tower and the cistern. The bottom of the well communicates with the cave whose entrance is surrounding the castle behind the wall.

Chungus The Infallible (4 years ago)
A beautiful place that will soon disappear if not taken care of

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