Rojas Castle

Poza de la Sal, Spain

The castle of the Rojas is located on the top of a hill near the town of Poza de la Sal. At the end of the 9th century Count Diego Rodríguez Porcelos repopulated Poza building the castle for the defense of the new territory. Like other castles of this time it may have been a simple keep surrounded by some walls.

In the 14th century Rodriguez de Rojas family rebuilt the current castle. It was occupied in 1808 by French troops and was a target of continuous attacks of Burgos garrisons until the end of the war.

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Address

BU-502, Poza de la Sal, Spain
See all sites in Poza de la Sal

Details

Founded: 9th century AD
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Burgos Cathedral (39,7 km)
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Burgos Castle (39,6 km)
San Juan Monastery (39,2 km)
Miraflores Charterhouse (38,6 km)
Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas (40,7 km)

User Reviews

el Canal de Chibolo (7 months ago)
The castle is almost entirely disappeared, but if you like history and landscapes you cannot miss it and it will make you think how we got here. The site is exceptional and the views are unsurpassed, they knew where our ancestors made the castles
Eduardo LQ (11 months ago)
A medieval castle in a wonderful setting, quite well preserved and with spectacular views.
carlos fernandez garcia (2 years ago)
There are only remains and unfortunately, since we do not know how to behave, people use it as a toilet ... that is if the impressive views
Jane MacLeod (3 years ago)
Found this by chance, superb, well worth a stop
Chema Cornago (3 years ago)
Excelente castillo medieval. Es llamativo el lugar en el que está enclavado, una monte rocoso, el cual lo convertía en un lugar muy codiciado estratégicamente para el dominio de la zona. La orografía del lugar lo hace prácticamente inaccesible para un posible enemigo. Tiene unas escaleras para subir al castillo, talladas en la propia roca y muy empinadas. En los alrededores del castillo hay unas mesas para descansar, comer etc
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Historic Site of the week

Lorca Castle

Castle of Lorca (Castillo de Lorca) is a fortress of medieval origin constructed between the 9th and 15th centuries. It consists of a series of defensive structures that, during the Middle Ages, made the town and the fortress an impregnable point in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula. Lorca Castle was a key strategic point of contention between Christians and Muslims during the Reconquista.

Archaeological excavations have revealed that the site of the castle has been inhabited since Neolithic times.

Muslim Era

It has not been determined exactly when a castle or fortress was first built on the hill. The first written documentation referring to a castle at Lorca is of Muslim origin, which in the 9th century, indicates that the city of Lurqa was an important town in the area ruled by Theudimer (Tudmir). During Muslim rule, Lorca Castle was an impregnable fortress and its interior was divided into two sections by the Espaldón Wall. In the western part, there was an area used to protect livestock and grain in times of danger. The eastern part had a neighbourhood called the barrio de Alcalá.

After Reconquista

Lorca was conquered by the Castilian Infante Don Alfonso, the future Alfonso X, in 1244, and the fortress became a key defensive point against the Kingdom of Granada. For 250 years, Lorca Castle was a watchpoint on the border between the Christian kingdom of Murcia and the Muslim state of Granada.

Alfonso X ordered the construction of the towers known as the Alfonsina and Espolón Towers, and strengthened and fixed the walls. Hardly a trace of the Muslim fortress remained due to this reconstruction. Muslim traces remain in the foundation stones and the wall known as the muro del Espaldón.

The Jewish Quarter was found within the alcazaba, the Moorish fortification, separated from the rest of the city by its walls. The physical separation had the purpose of protecting the Jewish people in the town from harm, but also had the result of keeping Christians and Jews separate, with the Christians inhabiting the lower part of town.

The remains of the Jewish Quarter extended over an area of 5,700 square m, and 12 homes and a synagogue have been found; the synagogue dates from the 14th century and is the only one found in the Murcia. The streets of the town had an irregular layout, adapted to the landscape, and is divided into four terraces. The synagogue was in the central location, and around it were the homes. The homes were of rectangular shape, with various compartmentalized rooms. The living quarters were elevated and a common feature was benches attached to the walls, kitchens, stand for earthenware jars, or cupboards.

Modern history

With the disappearance of the frontier after the conquest of Granada in 1492, Lorca Castle no longer became as important as before. With the expulsion of the Jews by order of Ferdinand and Isabella, Lorca Castle was also depopulated as a result. The castle was abandoned completely, and was almost a complete ruin by the 18th century. In the 19th century, the castle was refurbished due to the War of Spanish Independence. The walls and structures were repaired or modified and its medieval look changed. A battery of cannons was installed, for example, during this time. In 1931 Lorca Castle was declared a National Historic Monument.

Currently, a parador (luxury hotel) has been built within the castle. As a result, archaeological discoveries have been found, including the Jewish Quarter.

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