Belalcázar Castle

Belalcázar, Spain

The castle-palace of Belalcázar is one of the most representative of the 15th century, when the nobility attempted to demonstrate its social and economic status.

Built entirely of stone blocks, Belalcazar preserves two enclosures: an outer barrier adapted to the irregularities of the land and reinforced with rectangular towers, and the inner rectangular castle-palace with eight towers, one at each corner and another in the center of each side. All eight towers are of average height except for the eastern and principal tower, which rises noticeably above the rest.

In the 15th century, some Renaissance construction was added to improve the accommodations of the palace, which were insufficient in the old principal tower.The castle was built by the magnate Gutierre de Sotomayor, grand master of Alcantara, with the benefices he earned from his various possessions. The castle later passed on to the houses of Benavente and Osuna. In 1811, during the War of Independence, French troops defended the castle against a siege by the duke of Wellington's British troops.The exterior of the fortress is almost entirely intact, but nothing remains of the interior structure.

References:

Comments

Your name


Address

Extramuros Diseminados 288, Belalcázar, Spain
See all sites in Belalcázar

Details

Founded: 15th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.castles.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Belmez Castle (34,6 km)

User Reviews

Juan Carlos Aristu Garcia (2 years ago)
El castillo de Sotomayor Zúñiga y Madróñiz, pertenece a los condes de Belalcázar, donde residían, está situado en la localidad de Belalcázar, Córdoba, España y data del Siglo. XV. La piedra es de granito y está formada por 8 torres prismáticas, destacando la Torre del Homenaje con 47 metros de altura. En 2018 se realizó una gran reforma para mantener el castillo, debiendo cerrar al público. Por su localización, el castillo de Belalcázar se divisa desde tierras lejanas.
Gonzalo Hernández Rodríguez (3 years ago)
Una auténtica joya que deberíamos tener mejor cuidada y enfocada al turismo.
Ana Medina (3 years ago)
El castillo es único y precioso lo recomiendo y visitar el pueblo es muy bonito para pasear y tapear ,es una experiencia única
Melissa Schober (3 years ago)
Beautiful views from the castle to the valley below. Enormous stork nests to be seen.
Francisco Arevalo (3 years ago)
Bonito para dar un paseo por fuera y por el pueblo, pero no se puede visitar y le faltaría un arreglo para atraer más turismo. Una pena los grafitis que se ven desde fuera.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

History of Guernsey & Jersey
Photo from Flickr, copyright twiga-swala

Historic Site of the week

Heraclea Lyncestis

Heraclea Lyncestis was an ancient Greek city in Macedon, ruled later by the Romans. It was founded by Philip II of Macedon in the middle of the 4th century BC. The city was named in honor of the mythological hero Heracles. The name Lynkestis originates from the name of the ancient kingdom, conquered by Philip, where the city was built.

Heraclea was a strategically important town during the Hellenistic period, as it was at the edge of Macedon"s border with Epirus to the west and Paeonia to the north, until the middle of the 2nd century BC, when the Romans conquered Macedon and destroyed its political power. The main Roman road in the area, Via Egnatia went through Heraclea, and Heraclea was an important stop. The prosperity of the city was maintained mainly due to this road.

The Roman emperor Hadrian built a theatre in the center of the town, on a hill, when many buildings in the Roman province of Macedonia were being restored. It began being used during the reign of Antoninus Pius. Inside the theatre there were three animal cages and in the western part a tunnel. The theatre went out of use during the late 4th century AD, when gladiator fights in the Roman Empire were banned, due to the spread of Christianity, the formulation of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the abandonment of, what was then perceived as, pagan rituals and entertainment.

Late Antiquity and Byzantine periods

In the early Byzantine period (4th to 6th centuries AD) Heraclea was an important episcopal centre. A small and a great basilica, the bishop"s residence, and a funerary basilica and the necropolis are some of the remains of this period. Three naves in the Great Basilica are covered with mosaics of very rich floral and figurative iconography; these well preserved mosaics are often regarded as fine examples of the early Christian art period.

The city was sacked by Ostrogoth/Visigoth forces, commanded by Theodoric the Great in 472 AD and again in 479 AD. It was restored in the late 5th and early 6th century. When an earthquake struck in 518 AD, the inhabitants of Heraclea gradually abandoned the city. Subsequently, at the eve of the 7th century, the Dragovites, a Slavic tribe pushed down from the north by the Avars, settled in the area. The last coin issue dates from ca. 585, which suggests that the city was finally captured by the Slavs. As result, in place of the deserted city theatre several huts were built.

The Episcopacy Residence was excavated between 1970 and 1975. The western part was discovered first and the southern side is near the town wall. The luxury rooms are located in the eastern part. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th rooms all have mosaic floors. Between the 3rd and 4th rooms there is a hole that led to the eastern entrance of the residence. The hole was purposefully created between the 4th and 6th century.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2021 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.