Orce Castle, Orce, Spain - SpottingHistory.com

Alcazaba de las Siete Torres ('the castle of seven towers') was built at the beginning of the 11th century, coinciding with the dismemberment of the Caliphate of Córdoba.

Address

Calle Castillo 1, Orce, Spain

See all sites in Orce

Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Vélez-Blanco Castle (33,7 km)

User Reviews

maria dolores gonzalezperez (5 months ago)
Only

Amedo Craven (6 months ago)
The castle dates from Arabic rule in Andalucia, although it is open you need to arrange a visit with the town hall. Today was an ecological market in the square

F Oc (6 months ago)
Beautiful and imposing castle inside the town of Orce. It is called the Seven Towers, it can be visited by arranging the visit at the local tourist office which is located in the Palacio de los Segura. Exhibitions are also organized in the keep. The history of the place and the various occupations it has had over time are impressive. I recommend it.

Bart Uyttenhove (2 years ago)
Huge trees, cave houses

Gran Vida Escuela de Cocina Macrobiotica (2 years ago)
Es un lugar espectacular por dentro y por fuera. Es una pasada los conciertos y el cine que aveces celebran. Lo recomido

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Kurayba

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. One of them narrates the origin of the name of castle derived from that of jester Becko for whom the Duke Stibor had the castle built.

Another legend has it that the lord of the castle had his servant thrown down from the rock because he protected his child from the lords favourite dog. Before his death, the servant pronounced a curse saying that they would meet in a year and days time, and indeed precisely after that time the lord was bitten by a snake and fell down to the same abyss.

The well-conserved ruins of the castle, now the National Cultural Monument, are frequently visited by tourists, above all in July when the castle festival takes place. The former Ambro curia situated below the castle now shelters the exhibition of the local history.

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Orce Castle