Xiquena Castle

Lorca, Spain

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

Address

Fontanares, Lorca, Spain

See all sites in Lorca

Details

Founded: 10th century AD
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

More Information

second.wiki
www.castles.nl

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

camavira camavira (13 months ago)
Abandoned castle that if rehabilitated could be visitable

Lucia Cruz (2 years ago)
Simple route to see the ruins of a castle that must have been imposing. Nice views. You have to come with a mini excursion. Ignoring the navigator, access is from the opposite slope.

Mark De Backer (3 years ago)
An ideal stopover on the way to Vélez-Rubio. High on the hill you can see the ruins from afar.

ramon ramon (3 years ago)
Nice place but very degraded and in a few years nothing will remain standing if they do not maintain it.

isabel martos (3 years 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.

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