Iznájar Castle, Iznájar, Spain - SpottingHistory.com

Castillo de Iznájar is an 8th-century castle perched on the high ridge. It has a triangular design, truncated on the northeast side, with its longest side facing south, and a large central space. It is surrounded by a stretch of wall with flanking towers at the southeast and southwest corners. The east side is closed by a rectangular building, which is attached to the west with a pentagonal tower at the bow, and another tower in the east. Early access to the castle is believed to have been from the east side through a building attached to the primitive rectangular tower.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

anna sisk (2 months ago)
Had an emergency on 20 01 2023 at cc 7.00 p.m. To say the Ambulance staff were 100000% excellent is putting it mildly. They are truly Angels. The Ambulance Medics were so efficient and caring and treated the very distressed patient at his home and stayed for a while to make sure everything was okay!! Well, top marks to these people. James's Hospital may have its problems but came up trumps (again) for me and my family last night. Thank you St. James's Hospital, the wonderful Ambulance staff and the Emergency people to include the 999 staff member who took my call. Amazing people doing an excellent and tough job. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and God bless you. Anna & Family.

Fiona Brady (2 months ago)
An absolute pleasure at the lipids clinic today. Such nice helpful and friendly staff. I did not feel any stress at all and usually I would while attending other hospitals appointments. Consultation, bloods and tests conducted in just over an hour. Pity I had to travel so far but it was worth it so much better than sitting in waiting areas for hours. Thanks for everything and keep up the great work guys.

Kim Fitzgerald (2 months ago)
Dropped my mam to A&E Monday morning and from start to finish the care was 5 star. The staff from nurses, doctors, porters, catering staff etc looked after her and gave her plenty to smile about. She said the cleanliness and staff in St John's ward was incredible. Home safe and recovering. Feeling grateful. Thank you!

paul leigh (6 months ago)
I arrived almost an hour early after five hours of traveling to get there and was seen immediately by the friendliest staff I have ever known. They went out of their way to make sure that I was seen too, to get a bus home that would get me to my nearest big town so I could get the last connected bus to my home town thus saving me €60 in taxi fares. The staff are a credit to both the patients and the directors of the hospital. Greatest of thanks to you all, your amazing.

Jim Lobo (7 months ago)
Busy hospital & good service . Staff are friendly and great ... Overall positive experience.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Iznájar Castle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Migthy Cathar Castles

Hidden Gems of Finnish Archipelago

House of the Dragon Filming Locations

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

Looks like you are a history fan!