Ampudia Castle

Ampudia, Spain

First built in the 13th century, but thoroughly altered in the 15th century, Ampudia Castle has a square plan with a gothic central courtyard and 4 towers on each corner. Half of the castle complex is surrounded by a barbican defended by cylindrical towers.

It belonged to different owners such as Juan Alfonso de Alburquerque, Sancho de Rojas and Pedro Garcia Herrera (Marsical of Castille) among others.

In 1521 it was assaulted and occupied by the Comuneros (Castillan independentists who fought against Charles I of Spain) headed by the belicious bishop Acuna. It was later retaken for the Crown by the Duke of Lerma.

Today Ampudia Castle is a private property, but its grounded departments can be visited on a guided tour. Other parts of the castle like the upper levels or the keep are not open for visit.

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Address

Calle Costanilla de Santiago 1, Ampudia, Spain
See all sites in Ampudia

Details

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

More Information

www.everycastle.com
www.turismocastillayleon.com

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Plaza Mayor (29,4 km)
Valladolid Cathedral (29,4 km)
Santa María La Antigua (29,2 km)
Iglesia de San Pablo (28,8 km)
Museo Nacional de Escultura (28,9 km)
San Benito el Real (29,1 km)
Palencia Cathedral (23,1 km)
Royal Palace of Valladolid (28,9 km)
San Zoilo Monastery (49,6 km)

User Reviews

Ester Casas (3 months ago)
Muy bien conservado, interesante visitarlo por dentro, cañones, sala de botica, utensilios originales antiguos etc.
Ruben Arroyo (4 months ago)
Fundación Fontanería gran colección de arte de todo tipo.El castillo de los más bonitos y la visita muy interesante.
Juan Carlos Puga Ramallal (4 months ago)
Eran las 13:00 cuando llegamos ,fuimos a la oficina de turismo, una chica muy agradable y profesional que nos informó de todo. Salimoos y por la hora decidimos ir a comer.....Imposible. Ni un bocadillo.
Jesus lv (5 months ago)
Muy recomendable visita a un pueblecito de la provincia de Palencia si quieres ver un castillo medieval muy bien conservado. Por 4 € tienes una visita guiada de 45 minutos con explicaciones en la que puedes ver por diversas salas... animales disecados, sillas medievales que se usaban para parir o para la amputación, espadas, cubertería vajillas medievales, típico comedor, pistolas escopetas y revólveres de duelo, elementos religiosos, elementos de alquimia o farmacia de venta de cara al público medieval, juguetes y diversas armas antiguas desenterradas. Gran sitio.
Belén Boy (6 months ago)
El exterior del castillo está muy bien, aunque se ha derrumbado una torre. Bastante reconstruido. Tiene dos visitas, una general en la que el tema principal es ver las colecciones de objetos variados del último dueño y otra que no hecho y consiste en una visita mucho más detallada recorriendo la planta superior y las habitaciones. Para esta última hay que llamar con dos días de antelación y ser, al menos, 5 personas.
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Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Historic Site of the week

Hochosterwitz Castle

Hochosterwitz Castle is considered to be one of Austria's most impressive medieval castles. The rock castle is one of the state's landmarks and a major tourist attraction.

The site was first mentioned in an 860 deed issued by King Louis the German of East Francia, donating several of his properties in the former Principality of Carantania to the Archdiocese of Salzburg. In the 11th century Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg ceded the castle to the Dukes of Carinthia from the noble House of Sponheim in return for their support during the Investiture Controversy. The Sponheim dukes bestowed the fiefdom upon the family of Osterwitz, who held the hereditary office of the cup-bearer in 1209.

In the 15th century, the last Carinthian cup-bearer, Georg of Osterwitz was captured in a Turkish invasion and died in 1476 in prison without leaving descendants. So after four centuries, on 30 May 1478, the possession of the castle reverted to Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg.

Over the next 30 years, the castle was badly damaged by numerous Turkish campaigns. On 5 October 1509, Emperor Maximilian I handed the castle as a pledge to Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg, then Bishop of Gurk. Bishop Lang undertook a substantial renovation project for the damaged castle.

About 1541, German king Ferdinand I of Habsburg bestowed Hochosterwitz upon the Carinthian governor Christof Khevenhüller. In 1571, Baron George Khevenhüller acquired the citadel by purchase. He fortified to deal with the threat of Turkish invasions of the region, building an armory and 14 gates between 1570 and 1586. Such massive fortification is considered unique in citadel construction.

Since the 16th century, no major changes have been made to Hochosterwitz. It has also remained in the possession of the Khevenhüller family as requested by the original builder, George Khevenhüller. A marble plaque dating from 1576 in the castle yard documents this request.

A specific feature is the access way to the castle passing through a total of 14 gates, which are particularly prominent owing to the castle's situation in the landscape. Tourists are allowed to walk the 620-metre long pathway through the gates up to the castle; each gate has a diagram of the defense mechanism used to seal that particular gate. The castle rooms hold a collection of prehistoric artifacts, paintings, weapons, and armor, including one set of armor 2.4 metres tall, once worn by Burghauptmann Schenk.

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