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 Klearchos Kapoutsis

Historic Site of the week

Beckov Castle

The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.

Cofrentes Castle