List of castles in Spain
The castles in Spain were built mainly for the country's defense, particularly with respect to fortification. During the Middle Ages, northern Christian kingdoms had to secure their borders with their Muslim southern neighbours, thus forcing both Christian and Muslim kings to grant border fiefs to their liege noblemen so as to keep and maintain defensive fortresses. When the Reconquista advanced, those border castles lost their initial purpose, and, as in the rest of medieval Europe, they were used as noble residences and fief-keeps. Sporadic threats of war maintained their initial military purposes as enemy invasions were common. In some locations, such as the Basque country, fiefdoms did not exist as such, and noble families could not afford nor did they need huge fortresses, giving rise to many tower houses. In Muslim Spain many castle-palaces were built: the petty taifa kingdoms that arose after the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba were militarily weak thus castles began taking on a more aesthetic purpose. During the late Middle Ages, Christian kingdoms had secured and enriched themselves well enough to support a more courtly lifestyle, so more residential castles were built, such as the Alcázar of Segovia, which was used as the main residence of the kings of Castile, whereas the Castle of Olite, built in a luxurious gothic style, was the seat of the Kingdom of Navarre's royal court.
After the Conquest of Granada in 1492, the Catholic monarchs ordered all the castles in their realms to be handed over to the Crown. Although the order was not completely carried out, the War of the Germanias, a rebellion against king Charles V in the early 16th century, forced the new Spanish Habsburg dynasty to continue the process, and many castles were demolished as well. Most of castles in Spain were successively abandoned and dismantled, Spanish kings fearing noble and peasant revolts, especially in the newly conquered lands. Accordingly, most of them are nowadays in a state of decay, and although some restoration work has been done, the number of former castles is so large that the Spanish government lacks both the resources and the will to restore them all. There are around 2500 castles in Spain corresponding only to this kind of fortification.
Andalucía[]
Almería[]
- Alcazaba of Almería
- , Abla
- Casa Fuerte de la Cruceta
- , Abrucena
- Castle of Santa Ana
- , Almería
- , Níjar
- Castillo de las Escobetas, Garrucha
Cádiz[]
- Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera
- Castle of Aznalmara
- Castle of Santa Catalina (Cádiz)
- Castle of San Sebastián (Cádiz)
- Castle of Sancti Petri
- Castle of San Marcos (El Puerto de Santa María)
- Castle of Guzmán el Bueno
- Castle of Tarifa
- Castle of Zahara de la Sierra
- Castle of Jimena de la Frontera
- Castle of Alcalá de los Gazules
- Castle of Arcos de la Frontera
- Castle of Torre-Alháquime
- Castle of Matrera (Villamartín)
- (Jerez de la Frontera)
- (Sanlúcar de Barrameda)
- Castle of Doña Blanca
- Castle of Castellar de la Frontera
Córdoba[]
- Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs)
- Castle of Almodóvar del Río
- Castle of Belalcázar
- Castle of Belmez
- Castle of Bujalance
- Castle of Almodóvar del Río
- (Belalcázar)
- Castle of Belmez
- Castle of Iznájar
Granada[]
- Alhambra
- Alcázar Genil
- Other castles in the municipality of Motril and Gualchos
Huelva[]
- (Cartaya)
- (Niebla)
- Castle of Santa Olalla del Cala
Jaén[]
- Castle of Albanchez de Mágina
- Castle of Aldehuela
- (Baños de la Encina)
- Castle of Santa Catalina (Jaén)
Málaga[]
- Alcazaba of Málaga
- Sohail Castle
- Alcazaba of Antequera
- Castle of Bentomiz
- Torre Ladrones
- Torre Río Real
- Urban Walls of Marbella
Sevilla[]
- , Carmona
- Alcázar of Seville
- Castle of Cote (Montellano)
- (El Coronil)
- Castle of Marchenilla (Alcalá de Guadaíra)
- Torre del Oro
- Torre de la Plata
Aragón[]
Huesca[]
- Castle of Loarre
- Castle of Monzón
- Castle of Montearagón
Teruel[]
- Castle of Ojos Negros
- Castle of Peracense
Zaragoza[]
- Castle of Aljafería
- Castle of Aranda de Moncayo
- Castle of Sadaba
Principality of Asturias[]
- Castle of Alesga
- Castle of Gauzón
- Castle of Salas
- Castle of Soto (Aller)
Basque Country[]
Araba[]
- Roman oppidum of Iruña-Veleia
- Tower of Mendoza
- in Vitoria-Gasteiz
- and
- Walled town of Labraza
- Walled town of Antoñana
- Walled town of Laguardia
- Walled town of
- Walled town of Urizaharra
Gipuzkoa[]
- Castle of la Mota in the Mount Urgull in San Sebastián
- Walled town of Hondarribia
- Walled town of Leintz-Gatzaga
Biscay[]
- Castle of Butrón
- Castle of Empress Eugénie de Montijo
- Torre Loizaga
- Walled town of Bermeo
Balearic Islands[]
- Castle of Amer
- Bellver Castle
- St. Philip's Castle, Mahón
- es
- Castle of Capdepera
- es
- Castle of Santa Àgueda
Canary Islands[]
- Castle of San Cristóbal (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)
- Castle of St John the Baptist
- Castle of San Andrés
Cantabria[]
Castile and León[]
Ávila[]
- (Arenas de San Pedro)
- (Ávila)
- (Cabezas del Villar)
- (Mironcillo)
- (Narros de Saldueña)
- (Rasueros)
- (Rivilla de Barajas)
- (Solosancho)
- (Villatoro)
- (Las Navas del Marqués)
- Walls of Ávila
Burgos[]
- (Villagonzalo-Pedernales)
- (Estepar)
- Castle of Burgos
- (Olmillos de Sasamón)
- Castle of the Dukes of Frías (Frías)
- (Espinosa de los Monteros)
- (Quintana de Valdivieso)
- (Población de Valdivieso)
- Castle of Miranda de Ebro
- Castle of Peñaranda de Duero (Peñaranda de Duero)
- (Lara de los Infantes)
- (Poza de la Sal)
- (Rebolledo de la Torre)
- (Trespaderne)
- (Pampliega)
- (Urbel del Castillo)
- (Villaute)
- Castle of Velasco
- Fortress of Santa Engracia
- Arco de Santa María
Leon[]
- ()
- or (Villabraz)
- or (Alija del Infantado)
- (Valdepiélago)
- (Valdepiélago)
- (Valdepiélago)
- (Balboa)
- (Riello)
- (La Pola de Gordón)
- (Castrocalbón)
- (Cea)
- or (Priaranza del Bierzo)
- (Corullón)
- or (Valencia de Don Juan)
- (Valderrueda)
- (Grajal de Campos)
- (Laguna de Negrillos)
- (Los Barrios de Luna)
- (Mansilla de las Mulas)
- (Castrocontrigo)
- or (Palacios de la Valduerna)
- (Truchas)
- , or (Ponferrada)
- or (Boca de Huérgano)
- (Quintana del Marco)
- (Riaño)
- or (Santa María de Ordás)
- , or (Vega de Valcarce)
- (, Boca de Huérgano)
- or (Rioseco de Tapia)
- , or (León)
- (Valderas)
- (Santa Elena de Jamuz)
- (Cubillas de Rueda)
- or ()
- (San Emiliano)
- (Villafranca del Bierzo)
- ()
- (Almanza)
- (Toral de los Guzmanes)
- or (Boca de Huérgano)
- ()
- (Canseco, Cármenes)
- (Villamontán de la Valduerna)
- (Val de San Lorenzo)
- (Puebla de Lillo)
- ()
- (La Pola de Gordón)
Palencia[]
- (Belmonte de Campos)
- (Buenavista de Valdavia)
- (Fuentes de Valdepero)
- (Torremormojón)
- (Barruelo de Santullán)
Salamanca[]
- or
- or
- Royal Fortress of the Concepcion or Castillo de Aldea del Obispo
Segovia[]
- Alcázar of Segovia
- Castle of Castilnovo
- (Coca)
- Castle of Cuéllar
- (Pedraza)
- Castle of Turégano
Soria[]
- (Almenar de Soria)
- (Berlanga de Duero)
- (El Burgo de Osma)
- Castle of Gormaz
- Castle of Medinaceli
- Castle of Montuenga
- (Monteagudo de la Vicarías)
- (San Leonardo de Yagüe)
- Castle of Ucero
Valladolid[]
- Castle of Fuensaldaña (Fuensaldaña)
- Castle of La Mota
- (Montealegre de Campos)
- Castle of Peñafiel
- Castle of Portillo
- Castle of Simancas (Simancas)
- Castle of Torrelobatón (Torrelobatón)
- (Urueña)
- or
- (Curiel de Duero)
- (Mayorga)
- (Medina de Rioseco)
- (Medina del Campo)
- (Olmedo)
- (Peñafiel)
- ()
- (Tordesillas)
- (Torrelobatón)
- (Tudela de Duero)
- (Urueña)
- (Valbuena de Duero)
- (Valladolid)
- (Villabrágima)
- (Villalba de los Alcores)
Zamora[]
- or Castle of Alfaraz
- Castle of Alcañices[1]
- Castle of Zamora
Castile-La Mancha[]
Albacete[]
- Castle of Chinchilla de Montearagón
- Castle of Almansa
- Castle of Alcalá del Júcar
Ciudad Real[]
- Castle of Calatrava la Vieja
- Castle-Convent of Calatrava la Nueva
- Castle of Salvatierra
- or
Cuenca[]
- , (Cuenca)
- Castle of Alarcón
- Castle of Belmonte
- Castle of Garcimuñoz
- , or
- - (Puebla de Almenara)
- (Villaescusa de Haro)
- (Moya)
- Beteta
- , (El Cañavate)
- , (San Clemente)
- , (Paracuellos)
- , (Uclés)
- , (Montalbo)
- , (La Hinojosa)
- , (San Clemente)
- , (Minglanilla)
- , (Iniesta)
- , (Zafra de Záncara)
- , (Huélamo)
- , (Cañete)
- , (Cuenca)
- , (Honrubia)
- , (San Clemente)
- , (Talayuelas)
Guadalajara[]
- , in Zorita de los Canes
- , in the municipality of Luzaga
- , near Salmerón
- Castle of Alcocer
- , or , in San Andrés del Congosto
- , near Hortezuela de Océn
- , in the municipality of
- Castle of Anguix
- Castle of Atienza
- , in
- , in the municipality of Taravilla
- or Castle of Santa Ana, in Auñón
- , in Cantalojas
- , in Cifuentes
- or , in
- or
- or
- and
- , in the municipality of Taravilla
- , in
- , in Villel de Mesa
- or
- , in the municipality of Tortuera
- , between Angón and Pálmaces de Jadraque, in the municipality of Atienza
- Castle of Jadraque or Castle of the Cid
- , in Horche
- , in the municipality of Villel de Mesa
- Castle of Molina de Aragón or Fortress of Molina de los Caballeros
- , en Terzaga
- , near Luzón
- , in Tierzo
- or , between and
- Castle of Palazuelos
- Castle of Pelegrina
- , in Brihuega
- , near Humanes
- or , between Trillo and , on one of the
- , or , near Romanones
- Castle of Pioz
- , in the municipality of Atanzón
- , near Peralejos de las Truchas
- , near Corduente
- Castle of Sigüenza
- Castle of Riba de Santiuste
- Castle of Torija
- , or , in
- , in the municipality of Illana
- Castle of Zafra (Guadalajara), near Campillo de Dueñas
- , between Torrejón del Rey and Galápagos
- , in Guadalajara
- , in the municipality of Riba de Saelices
- , in the municipality of Atanzón
- , near Sigüenza
- , in Molina de Aragón
- , in the municipality of Tartanedo
- , in the municipality of Taravilla
- , between Traíd and
- , near Tierzo
- , in Membrillera
Toledo[]
- Alcázar of Toledo
- Castle of San Servando
- Castle of Montalbán
- Castle of Guadamur
- Castle of Barcience
Catalonia[]
Barcelona[]
- Castle of Cardona
- Castle of Castelldefels
- Castle of Castellet
- Castle of Dosrius
- Castle of Montjuic
- Castle of Santa Florentina
- Castle of Gallifa
- Castle of Rajadell
- Castle of Rubí
Tarragona[]
Girona[]
- of Tossa de Mar
- Castle of Peralada
- Castle of Requesens
- Castle of Palau Sacosta
- Castle of Púbol
- Castle of Quermançó
- Castle of Sant Ferran
- Castle of the Montgrí
Lleida[]
- (Suda de Lleida)
- Castle of Besora
Extremadura[]
Cáceres[]
Badajoz[]
- Alcazaba of Badajoz
- Alcazaba of Mérida
- Castle of Zafra (Badajoz)
Galicia[]
A Coruña[]
- , (San Sadurniño)
- Castle of Andrade or , (Pontedeume)
- , (Rianxo)
- Castle da Rocha Forte, (Santiago de Compostela)
- , (Padrón)
- , (Arzúa)
- , (Mesía)
- , (Vimianzo)
- , (Corcubión)
- , (Ortigueira)
- , (Boqueixón)
- , (Cee)
- , (Camariñas)
- Castle of San Felipe, (Ferrol)
- , (Coirós)
- , (Oleiros)
- , (Pontedeume)
- , (Brión)
- , (Malpica de Bergantiños)
- , (Zas)
- , (Cabana de Bergantiños)
- , (Culleredo)
- , (A Laracha)
- , (Abegondo)
- Tower of Hercules, (A Coruña)
- , (Mañón)
- , (Coristanco)
- , (Porto do Son)
- , (A Pobra do Caramiñal)
- , (Betanzos)
- , (Carballo)
- , (Boiro)
Lugo[]
- , ()
- , (Guntín)
- , (Guitiriz)
- , (Antas de Ulla)
- , (Chantada)
- , (A Fonsagrada)
- , (Cospeito)
- , ()
- Castle do Castrodouro, (Alfoz)
- , (Castroverde)
- , (Cervantes)
- , (Pantón)
- , (Friol)
- , (Monforte de Lemos)
- , (Navia de Suarna)
- , (Palas de Rei)
- , (Monterroso)
- , (Riotorto)
- , (Begonte)
- , (Sarria)
- , (Quiroga)
- , (As Nogais)
- , (Lourenzá)
- , (Vilalba)
- , (Quiroga)
- , (Friol)
- , (Ribadeo)
- , (Friol)
- , (Pantón)
- , (O Saviñao)
- , (As Nogais)
- , (Mondoñedo)
- , (O Incio)
- , (Pantón)
- , (Monforte de Lemos)
- , (Palas de Rei)
- , (Outeiro de Rei)
- , (Taboada)
- , (Outeiro de Rei)
- , (Cospeito)
- , (Riotorto)
- , (Samos)
- , (Friol)
- , (O Saviñao)
- Walls of Lugo
Ourense[]
- , (Celanova)
- , (A Peroxa)
- , (Allariz)
- , (Castro Caldelas)
- , (A Peroxa)
- , (A Peroxa)
- , ()
- , ()
- Castle da Piconha, (Calvos de Randín)
- , (Ribadavia)
- , (Cenlle)
- , (Sandiás)
- , (Vilamarín)
- , (O Barco de Valdeorras)
- , (Cartelle)
- , (San Cibrao das Viñas)
- , (Porqueira)
- , (Xinzo de Limia)
- , (Taboadela)
- , (Viana do Bolo)
- , (Celanova)
- , (O Bolo)
Pontevedra[]
- , (Fornelos de Montes)
- , (Silleda)
- Castle of Fornelos, (Crecente)
- , (Vilanova de Arousa)
- Castle of Monterreal, (Baiona)
- , (Salvaterra de Miño)
- Castle of Sobroso, (Mondariz)
- Castle of Soutomaior, (Soutomaior)
- Castle of Tebra, (Tomiño)
- , (Vilaboa)
- , (Vigo)
- , (Agolada)
- , (Gondomar)
- , (Rodeiro)
- , (Tomiño)
- , (Forcarei)
- , (Vilagarcía de Arousa)
- Torres de Oeste, (Catoira)
- , (A Estrada)
- , (O Grove)
- , (Rodeiro)
- , (Rodeiro)
- , (A Estrada)
- , (Vilagarcía de Arousa)
Community of Madrid[]
- Castle of Buitrago del Lozoya
- New Castle of Manzanares el Real
- Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón
- Atalaya de Arrebatacapas
- Atalaya de El Berrueco
- Atalaya de El Vellón
- Atalaya de Venturada
- Atalaya de Torrelodones
- Christian Walls of Madrid
- Muslim Walls of Madrid
- Royal Alcázar of Madrid
Region of Murcia[]
- Castle of Lorca
- in Lorca
- in Lorca
- in Lorca
- of Cartagena
- of Cartagena
- of Cartagena
- in Mula
[]
- Castle of Xabier
- Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite
- Citadel of Pamplona
La Rioja[]
- Castle of Aguas Mansas in Agoncillo, restored and converted in the town hall.
- , there are only a few ruins.
- Castle of Arnedo
- Castle of Clavijo
- Castle of Cornago
- Castle of Leiva
- Castle of Quel
Valencian Community[]
Alicante[]
- Castle of Aixa
- Castle of Banyeres
- Castle of Barchell
- Castle of Biar
- Castle of Cocentaina
- Castle of Santa Bàrbara
- Castle of Villena or Castle of la Atalaya
- or
- Walls of Tabarca
Castellón[]
- es
- es
- Castle of Peniscola
- or
- or
Valencia[]
- es
- es
- es
- es
- es
- es
- Castle of Ayoraes
- es
- es
- es
- es
- es
- es
- Castle of Castielfabib
- es
- [2]
- [3]
- Castle of Sagunto
- Castle of Xàtiva
- or
- Towers of Serrans
- Tower of Paterna
Number of fortifications by provinces[]
In the following table, are related the various Spanish provinces, ordered according to the number of existing fortifications, both castles themselves as towers, watchtowers, bunkers, walls and castros[4]
It attached the references to some of the relevant statements of Cultural Assets of the different Councils of Culture of the Autonomous Communities:
- Andalusia: Councils of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía[5]
Province | Total of fortifications | Castles and similars | Towers, watchtowers and bunkers | Walls and castros | Others |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaén | 237[6] | 97[7] | 126[8] | 14[9] | 1 |
Almería | 126[10] | 81 | 54 | 54 | 14 |
Guadalajara | 198 | 124 | 27 | 44 | 3 |
Cuenca | 175 | 100 | 30 | 32 | 13 |
Cádiz | 161 | 37 | 71 | 31 | 1 |
Soria | 121 | 49 | 41 | 24 | 7 |
Zaragoza | 105 | 82 | 9 | 10 | 4 |
Barcelona | 104 | 97 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Navarra | 95 | 61 | 8 | 15 | 11 |
Teruel | 95 | 56 | 12 | 16 | 11 |
Burgos | 91 | 44 | 28 | 16 | 3 |
Cáceres | 84 | 67 | 3 | 11 | 3 |
Biscay | 78 | 4 | 65 | 6 | 3 |
Alicante | 73 | 45 | 20 | 7 | 1 |
Huesca | 70 | 59 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
Toledo | 70 | 46 | 7 | 12 | 5 |
Lleida | 68 | 52 | 10 | 6 | 0 |
Madrid | 67 | 30 | 18 | 15 | 4 |
Valencia | 63 | 37 | 11 | 13 | 2 |
Badajoz | 62 | 48 | 2 | 11 | 1 |
Murcia | 58 | 43 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
Castellón | 58 | 30 | 11 | 14 | 3 |
Albacete | 52 | 34 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
Valladolid | 50 | 35 | 2 | 12 | 1 |
Tarragona | 48 | 46 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
La Rioja | 48 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 2 |
León | 47 | 30 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
Álava | 45 | 6 | 31 | 8 | 0 |
Salamanca | 41 | 24 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
Ciudad Real | 36 | 27 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Girona | 35 | 22 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
Segovia | 32 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
Ávila | 29 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Balearic Islands | 28 | 12 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
Cantabria | 28 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 0 |
Lugo | 26 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Palencia | 25 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
Zamora | 25 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 2 |
Asturias | 24 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 |
Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 24 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
Ourense | 18 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
A Coruña | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Las Palmas | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Ceuta | 11 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Pontevedra | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Melilla | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Gipuzkoa | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
References[]
- ^ Historia (October 22, 2015). "Apéndice I. Los lugares del Temple". In Martínez, Gemma; Mínguez, Nines (eds.). Templarios. Del origen de las cruzadas al final de la Orden del Temple (1st ed.). Madrid: Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, S. A. U. p. 417. ISBN 9788401015731.
- ^ "Castillo de Corbera" (in Spanish). Castell de Cullera. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
- ^ "El Castillo" (in Spanish). Castillos de Espana. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
- ^ According to Ibercastillos: Fortifications of Spain and Castillosnet: Castles of Spain Archived 2014-05-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/iaph/bdi/frmSimple.do
- ^ for Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Total Fortifications
- ^ Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Castles
- ^ Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Towers, watchtowers and bunkers[dead link]
- ^ Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Walls and Castros[dead link]
- ^ Almería — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Total Fortifications
External links[]
- Castles in Spain
- Lists of castles in Europe
- Lists of buildings and structures in Spain
- Lists of castles by country
- Lists of tourist attractions in Spain