The Castillo de Miranda de Ebro is a medieval fortification located on Picota hill in the heart of the old helmet of the city. It sits about 500 metres above sea level and offers great views of the city and the surrounding mountains. The castle was built of ashlar masonry stone on its external walls, while the interior was completed with rubble.
The history of the castle dates back to 1358 when Tello of Castille asked for the land, though construction did not begin until 1485 under the direction of the expert stonecutter Juan Guas. Because Miranda has always been a border region, the fortress witnessed the consequences of war on numerous occasions. During the War of Spanish Independence, a decree was signed at the castle to use French currency in Spain.
In 1903, the city council decided to dismantle the castle. The stones were used for the construction of a bullring that has since disappeared. The remaining ruins were covered with earth and used as the foundations for the construction of a water tank. Today, the castle is protected under the Declaration of the Decree of 22 of April 1949 and Law 16/1985 on Spanish Historical Patrimony.
If you visit today, only the north wall is visible between the King's Battery and the Queen's Battery. An east-west wall and a circular tower hidden by vegetation are also preserved in the southwestern edge. The entrance to the fortification was through a barbican, a small defensive system consisting of a series of entrance halls before the front door. The value and use of the castle is currently under assessment.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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