Cofrentes Castle, Cofrentes, Spain

The ruins of the Cofrentes castle are perched atop Cerro de Agras, an extinct volcano. The castle was founded by the Arabs and was key to defending the valley and transportations up the river that were taking place from the 12th century.

Architecturally, the fortress has three different parts: the lower section, the middle section and the upper section, or the bastion, which is accessed through the courtyard and which housed the noble parts of the castle. The fortress was adapted in each period and rebuilt following the damage suffered during the War of Succession, the Peninsular War and the Carlist Wars.

The Torre del Homenaje, or Keep, is a defining feature of the castle. Nowadays it has been converted into a viewing point from where you can breathe in extraordinary views.

Tickets to Cofrentes castle include entrance to the newly opened museum, which will take you back through the history of the fortress and the settlement that was there before it. One of the most important items on display is the Reloj de la Torre del Castillo, a mechanical clock that is thought to be the oldest in the Region of Valencia.

References:

comunitatvalenciana.com

Address

Cofrentes, Spain

See all sites in Cofrentes

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Chirel Castle (6,8 km)
Jalance Castle (4,5 km)

Ayora Castle (19,2 km)
Chulilla Castle (49,4 km)
San Miguel Royal Monastery (59 km)

User Reviews

Jose Gregorio Lepervanche Valencia (14 months ago)
This is the second time we try to visit this amazing castle combining it with a fluvial cruise. Guide tours are only from 11 to 14 hrs. In both opportunities we went with a group that booked the 11am river cruise. We had to settle to walk around the castle and the narrow ancient streets. If you want to do both the same day, try the last cruise. We enjoyed the views of both rivers, the nuclear plant and had a great lunch at El Asador outside Teresa de Cofrentes. #abuelosmoxhileros_rivers

Patricia Allen (3 years ago)
Lovely trip on the river boat didn't see any animals or birds that they said lived there but it was relaxing.

Diarmaid Hurley (4 years ago)
Amazing views from the top, very interesting tour, museum and town

Enrico Engelmann (5 years ago)
Actually nobody is talking about the nuclear power plant there..... However you still need no photoshop for the right angle ;) A beautiful village and an incredible place for a nuclear plant/castle !

Jonathan Charles Derham (6 years ago)
Castle was closed when we passed by but it looked well worth a visit if it had been open.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Cofrentes Castle