Zahara de la Sierra Castle, Zahara de la Sierra, Spain

Zahara de la Sierra Castle is actually a six-hectare area on the rocky hill, known as the Villa Arabe or Villa Medieval; its crowning glory is the Homage Tower. The town was originally a Moorish outpost, overlooking the valley. Due to its position between Ronda and Seville, it was a perfect site for a castle to be built to serve as a fortress in case of attack.

The path starts at the car park on the roof of Hotel de la Villa and is wide with a handrail in good condition. It is a steep climb through the cacti and pines with wild flowers, prickly pear and almond trees. Initially you pass by foundations of unmarked buildings clinging on the more level slopes. The first historic building looks like the homage tower but is the Iglesia Major and you still have a long way to climb. Be careful here as the birds nest in the walls and make a mess on the path or persons below. The supporting buttresses are modern but the walls are original.

User Reviews

Niels Speijer (2 years ago)
Short but steep climb to a magnificent viewpoint with moorish castle.

Mark Warner (2 years ago)
We could see the town off in the distance from the road on our way to Ronda from Seville. We turned around to go check it out as we missed the exit and we are so happy we did. So interesting and the incredible castle and it's views from the top are not to be missed.

Paul Blanchon (2 years ago)
Perched on the highest point above the town giving fantastic views in all directions. The trail and shrubbery needed attention however and a few more informative signs would have been nice.

Angela M.H (2 years ago)
For me, it was a challenge to climb up to the fortress. Rugged and steep! Along with incredible outlook, my heart was still filled with joy. Turquoise lake is a shining beauty, just like a soft gem lays comfortably surrounded by rough stones. A real Nature contrast!

Ray Chen (2 years ago)
As with most of this area, it's difficult to find a terrible view, especially if you're in a castle. Having the luxury of climbing to the top and not having to pay to get in was a fantastic experience and the 360 views at the top were definitely worthy of the light climb. Be warned that it can be quite windy up top, so make sure you use your strong denture and toupee glue that morning!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Steve Clasper

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