The red citadel overlooking the white village

The red citadel overlooking the white village

Photo: Mónica Talón / Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 es , resized

A medieval castle where walls from an older era meet whitewashed village houses.

The red citadel of Castell de Vilafamés sits atop a 400-meter hill overlooking the white village below. This castle, dating back to the 14th century and conquered in 1233, has undergone various transformations throughout history, from its older foundations to later modifications.

The oldest surviving remains of the castle are from the 14th century, when the inhabitants of Vilafamés were forced to repair and strengthen its fortifications. The site suffered important attacks during the 19th century, which led to the adaptation of the fortification system to new war techniques. A notable example is the central circular tower from that period.

The castle contains almost complete walls and palace-like dependencies in front of the circular keep. These features include balconies with machicolations that were later modified to include spouts. In front of the tower, a rectangular patio preserves a cistern, which is likely the only vestige of the older era. The castle is currently restored and preserves much of its ancient structure, including large sections of walls and two characteristic towers.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

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