Béjar Castle

Béjar, Spain

The Ducal Palace of Béjar was built after 1203 by Alfonso VIII. Although these already very reduced in the XIXth century, they still conserve some square and round towers and part of their perimeter bordering the oblong hill on which the old part is based. Béjar was a royal place, but with Enrique III, in 1396, it passed to the lordship of Diego López de Zúñiga or Estúñiga, whose successors will hold the title of dukes of that place, granted by the Catholic Monarchs.

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Address

Plaza Mayor de Maldonado 30, Béjar, Spain
See all sites in Béjar

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Nines Hernandez Jimenez (10 months ago)
We were a group of 3 people, it put an indication to use the elevator, despite being 15 minutes before two sessions and not being able to go up to the first floor to notify, as it put the indication, call us by voice and co "knocks" at the elevator door as we heard talking. No one answered or under, is this how they want to attract tourism? My very negative rating for the person in charge of this service.
Jose Antonio Gonzalez Nieto (12 months ago)
From the outside it looks very interesting, but it has such limited hours that it is very difficult to access the visit. The important thing in one of these facilities is the environment that allows you to observe and I do not get used to the idea of ​​the attraction that Béjar has from this tower. If we compare it with the complexity of the environment offered by the camera obscura of the Tavira tower in the heart of Cádiz, it can be reduced to a mere contemplation of the landscape.
Esther Diego (2 years ago)
I only give one star for the record as a critic of the management of the place. I have been spending a few days in Béjar and I had a list with all the places I wanted to visit, after having checked schedules on the town hall website and social networks. The surprise comes when I show up there on time and nobody opens, since it turns out that it is closed. I understand the current situation, but the minimum is to update the information, so as not to leave us this bad taste in our mouths. The only good thing is that it will be time to return to Béjar, since everyone speaks wonders of this place.
Laura (2 years ago)
It really is a unique experience. It is best not to have expectations or much idea of ​​what you are going to see, because you will be pleasantly surprised. It is essential to get to know Béjar before venturing through its streets. The guide that explains it is a great professional who keeps you informed, attentive and entertaining at all times. It also handles the instruments very well. This site is so worth it ...
Cristina Gasco (2 years ago)
We found it very interesting and we were very surprised, both adults and children. Very curious. The girl who explained it to us is very kind. And in addition to all this, economical. I recommend it.
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Historic Site of the week

Walled city of Jajce

The Walled City of Jajce is a medieval fortified nucleus of Jajce in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with citadel high above town on top of pyramidal-shaped steep hill, enclosed with approximately 1,300 metres long defensive walls,. It is one of the best preserved fortified capitals of the Bosnian Kingdom, the last stronghold before the kingdom dissolved under the pressure of military advancement at the onset of Ottoman Empire takeover.

The entire complex of the Walled city of Jajce, with the citadel, city ramparts, watchtower Medvjed-kula, and two main city gate-towers lies on the southern slope of a large rocky pyramid at the confluence of the rivers Pliva and Vrbas, enclosed by these rivers from the south-southwest, with the bed of the Pliva, and east-southeast by the river Vrbas gorge.

History

The fortress was built by Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, the founder of Jajce. However, the city became the seat of the Bosnian kings, hence the royal coat of arms decoration on the citadel entrance. A part of the wall was built by the Hungarian King, while the Ottomans erected the powder magazine. The walls are high and the castle was built on a hill that is egg shaped, the rivers Pliva and Vrbas also protect the castle. There is no rampart on the south and west.

Jajce was first built in the 14th century and served as the capital of the independent Kingdom of Bosnia during its time. The town has gates as fortifications, as well as a castle with walls which lead to the various gates around the town. About 10–20 kilometres from Jajce lies the Komotin Castle and town area which is older but smaller than Jajce. It is believed the town of Jajce was previously Komotin but was moved after the Black Death.

The first reference to the name of Jajce in written sources is from the year 1396, but the fortress had already existed by then. Jajce was the residence of the last Bosnian king Stjepan Tomasevic; the Ottomans besieged the town and executed him, but held it only for six months, before the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus seized it at the siege of Jajce and established the Banovina of Jajce.

Skenderbeg Mihajlović besieged Jajce in 1501, but without success because he was defeated by Ivaniš Korvin assisted by Zrinski, Frankopan, Karlović and Cubor.

During this period, Queen Catherine restored the Saint Mary"s Church in Jajce, today the oldest church in town. Eventually, in 1527, Jajce became the last Bosnian town to fall to Ottoman rule. The town then lost its strategic importance, as the border moved further north and west.

Jajce passed with the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the administration of Austria-Hungary in 1878. The Franciscan monastery of Saint Luke was completed in 1885.

Surroundings

The Walled city of Jajce is located at the confluence of the Pliva and Vrbas rivers. It was founded and started developing in the Middle Ages and acquired its final form during the Ottoman period. There are several churches and mosques built in different times during different rules, making Jajce a rather diverse town in this aspect. It is declared National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and, as the old Jajce city core, including the waterfall, and other individual sites outside the walled city perimeter, such as the Jajce Mithraeum, it is designated as The natural and architectural ensemble of Jajce and proposed as such for inscription into the UNESCO"s World Heritage Site list. The bid for inscription is currently placed on the UNESCO Tentative list.

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