Lopera Castle

Description

Lopera Castle is a big castle in the city center made up of irregular masonry. It has an irregular pentagonal base. The castle is defended by five towers, some of the towers are cylindrical and some others are prismatic. It has machicolated balconies, a defensive device to better guard entrances and some of the fortified towers.

There were Romans and Visigoth settlements until Lopera was conquered by the Muslims at the beginning of the 8th century. During the 9th and 10th centuries, the population moved to the current town where a small Muslim farmstead was created. During the 11th century, the farmstead was fortified as a defence against Castilian attacks.

Once Lopera was conquered by the Christians, King Ferdinand III relinquished it to the Order of Calatrava. The Order of Calatrava built the castle that exists today. This castle guaranteed an escape to river Guadalquivir.

In 1856, the castle was acquired by Alonso Valenzuela who turned it into public property.