Kuusisto Castle

Kaarina, Finland

Kuusisto Castle was a medieval episcopal castle built in the beginning of the 14th century. It was the main residence of Finnish Catholic bishops until 1522, when the last bishop Arvid Kurki drowned when fleeing from Danish soldiers.

Kuusisto heyday was in the in the beginning of the 15th century, when bishop Maunu Tawast spent lot of time and money to enlarge the castle. The castle was ordered to be demolished during the Protestant Reformation in 1528 by the king Gustav I of Sweden. Stones of the castle were later used in renovations of Turku and Kastelholma castles.

Excavation and reconstruction work on the remaining ruins began in 1891.

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Address

Linnanrauniontie 634, Kaarina, Finland
See all sites in Kaarina

Details

Founded: ca. 1300
Category: Ruins in Finland
Historical period: Middle Ages (Finland)

More Information

www.muuka.com
en.wikipedia.org
www.nba.fi

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Piikkiö Church (3,1 km)
Pukkila Manor Museum (2,7 km)


Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova (12 km)
Turku Cathedral (11,8 km)
Turku Castle (13,8 km)
Forum Marinum (13,6 km)
Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum (11,7 km)
Vartiovuori Observatory (11,8 km)
Naantali Church (26,2 km)
Paimio Sanatorium (15,6 km)
Koroinen Church (12,1 km)

User Reviews

Eeva H. (6 months ago)
Cool place! I wish parking was closer though. The ruins were interesting with all the elevations, and the view from the top parts was great. The day was hot when we went there, so it would've been nice if the kiosk was open, but it wasn't. A nice, short sight-seeing trip. Our cat Muossi enjoyed it too. :D
Madiha Hussain (6 months ago)
Its a nice place but public transport is not really accessible unless its a weekday. Its a one hour walk from the nearest bus stop on a weeked. I also wish more historical information was available in each of the different sections. There is only one main information board with names of all the rooms and the floor map but it would be nice if the individual rooms/areas had a sign indicating what was the name and the history of the place.
Andrii Domanskyi (6 months ago)
Very interesting historical place
Tatiana Minav (10 months ago)
Place was nice, semi slippery. Free entry.
Edward Somer (2 years ago)
Nice if passing but not much to see
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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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