Calahorra Castle, La Calahorra, Spain

Built between 1509 and 1512, Calahorra Castle was one of the first Italian Renaissance castles to be built outside Italy. It is perfectly preserved and national monument. It is now in private hands, although it can be accessed by contacting the person in charge that the owners have in Calahorra.

Castles and fortifications in Spain

Address

Calle Diseminado 12, La Calahorra, Spain

See all sites in La Calahorra

Details

Founded: 1509-1512
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Guadix Cathedral (14,5 km)
Castillo de Santa Ana (62,8 km)
Alcazaba of Guadix (14,3 km)
Castillo de Guardias Viejas (57 km)
Lanjarón Castle (48 km)

User Reviews

Brian Deasy (14 months ago)
Truly stunning. This castle was built in 1509 and has seen little renovation since then. The private owners are said to be undertaking a huge restoration project in the near future. Well worth seeing in its current form. It only costs €3 per adult for the tour, given by a local. Well worth the trip.

Kat Smith (19 months ago)
Unusual and fascinating building, it's only open Wednesday mornings and afternoons. The guides tours are free but only in Spanish. Photos are not permitted on the tour. The building is very run down and in a poor state of repair, but it has an interesting history and has some beautiful features.

Matt Stott (2 years ago)
A simple looking castle from the outside, but steeped in history and wonderful architecture. Has been used in the films El Cid and Assasin's Creed. From the mount panaramic views of the Sierra Navada national park can be seen. The €3 charge for the guided tour, but best know Spanish as it's all they speak!!!

Louise Brearley (2 years ago)
Stunning castle, not what you'd expect when you go inside

Allan (2 years ago)
This place is old old old built in 1509 Open only on Wednesdays so you have been warned if you show any other times you will be looking at it from the outside only. From what we can gather the 5 euro visit is well worth the price to see this piece of history. The road is all gravel so don't take your luxury car up

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Makser

Historic Site of the week

Derbent Fortress

Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains connecting the Eurasian steppes to the north and the Iranian Plateau to the south. Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BCE. Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan and Iranian kingdoms.

Derbent has archaeological structures over 5,000 years old. As a result of this geographic peculiarity, the city developed between two walls, stretching from the mountains to the sea. These fortifications were continuously employed for a millennium and a half, longer than any other extant fortress in the world.

A traditionally and historically Iranian city, the first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century BC. The site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century BC. Until the 4th century AD, it was part of Caucasian Albania which was a satrap of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the 5th century Derbent functioned as a border fortress and the seat of Sassanid Persians. Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the Silk Route, the fortress was contested by the Khazars in the course of the Khazar-Arab Wars. In 654, Derbent was captured by the Arabs.

The Sassanid fortress does not exist any more, as the famous Derbent fortress as it stands today was built from the 12th century onward. Derbent became a strong military outpost and harbour of the Sassanid empire. During the 5th and 6th centuries, Derbent also became an important center for spreading the Christian faith in the Caucasus.

The site continued to be of great strategic importance until the 19th century. Today the fortifications consist of two parallel defence walls and Naryn-Kala Citadel. The walls are 3.6km long, stretching from the sea up to the mountains. They were built from stone and had 73 defence towers. 9 out of the 14 original gates remain.

In Naryn-Kala Citadel most of the old buildings, including a palace and a church, are now in ruins. It also holds baths and one of the oldest mosques in the former USSR.

In 2003, UNESCO included the old part of Derbent with traditional buildings in the World Heritage List.

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Calahorra Castle