The Determined Vestige: Unveiling the Ancient Enigma of the Old Castle of

Situated in Manzanares Real, part of the Spanish Community of Madrid, the Old Castle of Manzanares Real presents a grandeur at the summit of a hill, gazing down upon the River Manzanares, and residing on the southern slopes of La Pedriza, the grandest granite formation of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The connection between it and the De la Cerda family is an unsolved riddle, yet in 1383, ownership was relinquished to the House of Mendoza by King Juan I of Castilla, thus quelling strife between Madrid and Segovia residents. In the present day, the castle, partially in ruins, marks its presence only through two enduring walls, harmoniously nestled within a vibrant sanctuary. The precise build date of this impressive structure remains veiled in mystery; however, it is conspicuously older than its more renowned sibling, the New Castle of Manzanares Real, which was initiated in 1475.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons