A Thousand-Year-Old Fortress: The Castle of Almonacid

The Castle of Almonacid, situated in Almonacid de Toledo, Spain, is an ancient structure dating back to 848 of Muslim origin. Once a strategically important fortress, it has survived a tumultuous past. In the 11th century, the castle became the property of Alfonso VI of León as part of his wife Zaida’s dote. In December 1086, it was donated to the Catedral de Santa María de Toledo. The castle was remodeled in the 14th century under the orders of the archbishop of Toledo Pedro Tenorio.

The castle served as a prison for Alfonso Enríquez, count of Gijón and Noreña, in the 14th century. In the 18th century, it served as a refuge for General Venegas’ troops during the war of Independence, but it was eventually captured by French forces. Today, the castle’s walls are guarded by an exterior barrier and a walkway. The only remaining structure in the castle is the tower, which has three floors with brick vaults. Two cisterns, a silo, and some rooms remain in the castle. The castle features three-layer windows. Pedro Gumiel, an architect, wrote about the castle in the 16th century.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons