The History of Castrodouro Castle

Castrodouro Castle is a small fortification in Alfoz, Galicia, Spain, which once belonged to the Pardo de Cela family. Of the primitive castle, only the keep is preserved today. Its origins date back to a monastery founded in the 9th century by a family from Castile. As part of the Diocese of Mondoñedo, the site was later fortified with the support of the Asturian monarchy.

In the 15th century, the castle passed into the hands of Marshal Pedro Pardo de Cela as a dowry for his wedding with Isabel de Castro. After Pedro Pardo de Cela was beheaded by order of the Catholic Monarchs in December 1483, the property returned to the Diocese of Mondoñedo, which was then ruled by Bishop Diego Soto Valera. The Bishop converted the castle into an episcopal residence, a function it maintained until it was abandoned in the 17th century.

Since the 19th century, the castle has belonged to the Alfoz municipality. For most of the 20th century, it was used as the town hall and the Municipal Court. Today, the building houses the Alfoz visitor centre and a museum, preserving its legacy as a site of local heritage.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons