Ayerbe Castle, a Romanesque-era construction from the 11th century (actually built around 1030), now in ruins, is located on a small hill near the village of Ayerbe, Spain. Originally built to counter a Muslim castle, the castle changed hands several times before being donated to Pedro Jordán de Urriés. However, the castle suffered an attack in 1397 by the troops of the Count of Foix while Pedro Jordán de Urriés was attempting to invade the Kingdom of Aragón.
Only a few remnants of the castle can be found today. However, the story does not end there. Ayerbe, the village where the castle is located, shares its name with the castle. The name ‘Ayerbe’ is a puzzle, a remnant of the castle's history. The most interesting theory suggests that the name is a derivative of the Arabic word ‘ayrb’, meaning fortress. This theory fits the history of the castle and adds an air of mystery to this village in the region of Spain known for its sheep farming.
Ayerbe Castle is located on a slight hill above the village, with its large dimensions and reinforced walls with towers in the corners visible, but unfortunately, the interior of the castle does not have any preserved buildings, only a cistern and some very eroded walls.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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