Defensive towers of Cantabria

.

.

.

.

.

In Cantabria, there is a big number of fortified towers that fulfilled functions of housing and defense.^[1] These buildings, generally battlements, were erected mostly between the 13th and 15th centuries by noble families and influenced significantly in the architecture of Cantabria, passing some to be forts-houses, prelude to the future .^[2] A curious fact is that there are not in the region circular towers (except in some churches), as yes happens in the neighboring community of Asturias.^[1] Currently of the towers that survives several are in a deplorable condition.

The towers and castles that appear in medieval documents as castellum were very popular both as fortress as residences of nobles, mayors and gentlemen, and eventually generalized in the lower valleys of Cantabria, building on the hills and in the towns; one of the best examples of urban towers resulted in towns is the missing genesis of Torrelavega.^[3]

The defensive towers of Cantabria, for its architectural features, can only be compared with those of Enkarterri comarca of Biscay surrounding.^[1]

Evolution of the Cantabrian towers[]

Highmedieval fortifications[]

In the territory currently occupied by Cantabria can distinguish three stages in the medieval military architecture. The first, around the 7th and 12th centuries, is documented with an about twenty of sites that correspond with small castles, presumably linked to respective alfozes, and are the first organization in the Cantabrian territory not monastic nature. These castles are arranged in high places, easily defensible and often visible to each other. At the end of the stage, the new castles, related to the founding of the (Castro Urdiales, Santander, Laredo and San Vicente de la Barquera), there are more complex and are located in the same urban centers. Successively renovated, staged centuries later in the third phase with the walls around the villas^[4]

From 13th century, with the gradual increase of feudal power, appear across all Cantabria a large number of towers, more or less fortified, covering the entire territory and still are preserved enough samples. In the late Middle Ages there is only one instance in Cantabria leaking of this type, the .^[4]

The medieval tower[]

On low medieval stage the family fortifications splashed the Cantabrian geography with buildings designed to defend the coast and protection against war of the bands^[5] It is isolated towers built between the late 12th century and early 15th, which meet certain military function and watchtower over the territory. Its respond to a style Gothic, in many occasions late, and did not show up in urban centers.

Its have, as common features, square plants and walls of masonry with reinforcements of ashlar, narrow windows and mullioned or , usually a single entry and wood floors. Usually it has three to four floors, being the services in the lower (cellar, salting), a banquet and reception at the first and stately premises on successive; The main staircase was located near the entrance and was usually of wood. Probably each floor was free of divisions, except for the tapestries that hid the stately bed, and found no traces of partitions.^[6] Some possessed wall and pit. In some cases virtually all walls are of masonry. The entry was a flanked by loopholes; inside, a staircase from beside it two sections per floor attached to front progresses. The overall volume has few voids and creates a heaviness. The decor is virtually nonexistent. Normally its were topped by battlements. Inside an open wall near the window, with a bench, covered by a segmental arch ^[7]

The inner structure consisted of a central wooden trunk holding a large wooden beam on each floor, from which was forged between it and the stone walls. Only sometimes an inner wall of masonry on which to forge, replacing the wooden pillar.^[7]

In some cases, few, these towers were surrounded by a high barbican that made it seem castles at the style of Álava.^[1] The existence or not of these defense systems (ramparts, moats, countermoats, corbels, etc.) marks the typological difference of the towers.^[4]

The tower-house[]

The stately fortresses kept the medieval typologies along the 16th century although face to these, modern housing conjugated Gothic tradition of cubic volume, developed in height, with greater openness to own outside of modern palaces.^[8] From 16th century, with the union of the Catholic Monarchs, which brings a longer period of peace in the region, no longer interests the military function,^[6] but the towers are still being built and preserved as a sign of stately power. That's when appears the tower-house typical of Cantabria and expand or modify some existing watchtowers.

These are binoculars and lower turrets, sometimes reinforced with corner barrels. Its evolution will result in the 18th century to , typical example of Cantabrian palace. So some Baroque palaces, such as , were built respecting the ruins of ancient medieval towers.

Destruction of the tower houses

It is known that the king Henry IV of Castile sent down in 1403 the ; others were demolished by order of the Catholic Monarchs, speculated that were enough, as happened in Gipuzkoa and Galicia. The truth is that in 1437 Henry IV began a campaign to bring down those castles, fortresses and tower-houses built with no royal license. The tower houses of Gipuzkoa were ordered demolished in the year 1457. In 1500, Isabella and Ferdinand continued that legacy ^[9]

In this list appears towers, fortified towers and tower-houses (fortified houses) of Cantabria built between 12th and 17th centuries. Are not listed castles of the region; when appears the nickname castle refers to the popular name, which does not reflect the true type.

Defensive towers of Cantabria
Built between the 12th and 16th centuries

Image	Name	Century	Municipality	Figure of protection	Notes
		12th century	Herrerías	Well of cultural interest (1992)	Has barbican quite well preserved, high and with loopholes. It is demolished the top.
		12th century	Santillana del Mar	Well of local interest (2002)	Ancient medieval tower transformed into a tower house. Owned pit and Barbican.
		13th century	Marina de Cudeyo	Law 16/1985	Wide and lowest form, which earned it the name of the castle, although are not fit to the Castilians.
		13th century	Camaleño	Well of cultural interest (1985)	Medieval tower then transformed tower-house, with perimeter wall.
		13th century	Escalante	Well of cultural interest (1993)	Had barbican and blind towers at the corners.
		13th century	Val de San Vicente		It has wall and chapel.
		13th century	Cabezón de la Sal	Well of cultural interest (1984)	Transformed into palace[10] in the 18th century. Today is the Museum of Nature of Cantabria.
		13th century		Well of cultural interest (¿?)
		13th century	Mazcuerras		Converted into tower-house in the 15th century and later extensively renovated.
		13th century	Valdeolea	Law 16/1985	Tower converted then into castle.
		13th century	Reocín	Well of cultural interest (1982)	Beside was built the .
		13th century	Reocín
			Piélagos		Big tower located in the town of .
			Arnuero	Law 16/1985	Rebuilt one of its walls that was collapsed.
		14th century	Arnuero	Well of cultural interest (1992)
		14th century	Castro Urdiales	Law 16/1985	Only remain the startups of the walls.
		14th century	Marina de Cudeyo		Renovated in the 16th century. Has a skylight of 19th.[11]
			Colindres	Law 16/1985	A palace was built around the tower thus became an integral part thereof.
		14th century	Potes	Well of cultural interest (1983)
		14th century	San Felices de Buelna	Well of cultural interest (1983)
		14th century	Santillana del Mar
		14th century	Valderredible	Well of cultural interest (1992)	Are preserved remains of a moat. It has a cylindrical body as an abutment.
		14th century	Valdeolea	Well of cultural interest (¿2004?)
		14th century	Peñarrubia		The exterior retains full.[12]
		14th century	Comillas	Ley 16/1985	Restored.
		15th century (or 16th century)	Santillana del Mar	Well of cultural interest (1981)	Leads attached a palace.
		15th century		Well of cultural interest (1992)
		15th century	Suances
		15th century	Santillana del Mar		It was probably built on an earlier medieval tower.
		15th century	Vega de Liébana		Two similar towers along the way to the neighborhood of Campo (). One of them is fairly well preserved, while the other missing parts and threatens ruin.
		15th century	Campoo de Yuso	Well of cultural interest (1985)	Two nearby similar towers were demolished in the 18th century by threatening ruin.
		15th century	Cabuérniga		Restored.
		15th century	Cartes	Well of cultural interest (1985)
		15th century	Potes		Located in the neighborhood of Sol. Three levels and relatively good conservation.
		15th century	Santiurde de Toranzo	Well of cultural interest (1992)	Renaissance fortified house.[13]
		16th century	Medio Cudeyo
		16th century	Valderredible	Well of cultural interest (1992)
		16th century	Suances		Located in , formerly it belonged to a missing fortress.
		16th century	Soba
		16th century	San Miguel de Aguayo		Good condition.
		16th century	Laredo	Law 16/1985
		16th century	Soba
			Santander	Law 16/1985	Transformed into a palace in the middle of 16th century.
		16th century	Marina de Cudeyo	Well of cultural interest (1992)
		17th century	Corvera de Toranzo	Historic and artistic complex (1985)
		17th century	Corvera de Toranzo	Law 16/1985	Two-storey building added later. Good condition.
		17th century	Corvera de Toranzo		Historic and artistic complex (1985)
		18th century	Valdáliga		Existed in Caviedes another tower of the 13th century, now defunct.
		Unknown	Santiurde de Toranzo		Totally ruined. It was destroyed in the 15th century by the Marquis of Aguilar de Campoo and Count of Castañeda Garci Fernández Manrique.[13]
			Guriezo	Law 16/1985
			Peñarrubia		Only remain the foundations.[12]
			Voto	Law 16/1985
			Corvera de Toranzo
			Molledo
			Mazcuerras
			Selaya		Medieval tower embedded in a construction of 18th century for conversion into palace.
			Ampuero	Law 16/1985
			Entrambasaguas	Law 16/1985
			Argoños		Law 16/1985
			Mazcuerras	Law 16/1985
			Castro Urdiales	Ley 16/1985	Have annexed old buildings in two of its sides, making tower-house.
			Penagos	Law 16/1985
			Peñarrubia		Only preserves some canvases of walls.[12]
			Arnuero		Law 16/1985
			Valdáliga
			Rionansa
			Ruente		Converted into hotel.[14]
			San Miguel de Aguayo	Law 16/1985
			Suances	Law 16/1985	Only preserved part of two of its walls.
			Voto	Law 16/1985
			Arnuero
			Bárcena de Cicero	Law 16/1985
			Piélagos	Well of cultural interest (1983)	Medieval tower extended and fenced to make it palace compound during the 16th and 17th centuries, located in .
			Marina de Cudeyo	Law 16/1985
			Villacarriedo	Well of cultural interest	Now part of the , which is building in around him, preserving it.
			Reocín
			Alfoz de Lloredo
			Santillana del Mar	Law 16/1985	Remains of a fortified tower built on Roman and Castro ruins.
			Piélagos	Law 16/1985

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Fortified towers of Cantabria