List of castles in Spain

The castles in Spain were built mainly for the country's defense, particularly with respect to fortification. During the Middle Ages, northern Christian kingdoms had to secure their borders with their Muslim southern neighbours, thus forcing both Christian and Muslim kings to grant border fiefs to their liege noblemen so as to keep and maintain defensive fortresses. When the Reconquista advanced, those border castles lost their initial purpose, and, as in the rest of medieval Europe, they were used as noble residences and fief-keeps. Sporadic threats of war maintained their initial military purposes as enemy invasions were common. In some locations, such as the Basque country, fiefdoms did not exist as such, and noble families could not afford nor did they need huge fortresses, giving rise to many tower houses. In Muslim Spain many castle-palaces were built: the petty taifa kingdoms that arose after the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba were militarily weak thus castles began taking on a more aesthetic purpose. During the late Middle Ages, Christian kingdoms had secured and enriched themselves well enough to support a more courtly lifestyle, so more residential castles were built, such as the Alcázar of Segovia, which was used as the main residence of the kings of Castile, whereas the Castle of Olite, built in a luxurious gothic style, was the seat of the Kingdom of Navarre's royal court.

After the Conquest of Granada in 1492, the Catholic monarchs ordered all the castles in their realms to be handed over to the Crown. Although the order was not completely carried out, the War of the Germanias, a rebellion against king Charles V in the early 16th century, forced the new Spanish Habsburg dynasty to continue the process, and many castles were demolished as well. Most of the castles in Spain were successively abandoned and dismantled, Spanish kings fearing noble and peasant revolts, especially in the newly conquered lands. Accordingly, some of them are nowadays in a state of decay, and although some restoration work has been done, the number of former castles is so large that the Spanish government lacks both the resources and the will to restore them all.

Andalucía edit

Almería edit

Cádiz edit

Córdoba edit

Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs)
Castle of Almodóvar del Río
Castle of Belalcázar
Castle of Belmez
Castle of Bujalance
Castle of Almodóvar del Río
Castle of los Sotomayor Zúñiga y Madroñiz (Belalcázar)
Castle of Belmez
Castle of Espejo
Castle of Iznájar
Castle of Torreparedones
Castle of Zuheros
Tower of Arias Cabrera
Tower albarrana

Granada edit

Huelva edit

Jaén edit

Málaga edit

Sevilla edit

Alcázar of the King Don Pedro
Alcázar Puerta de Sevilla, Carmona
Alcazar of Alcalá de Guadaíra
Alcázar of Seville
Castle of Cote (Montellano)
Castle of El Coronil
Castle of El Real de la Jara
Castle of Estepa
Castle of las Aguzaderas (El Coronil)
Castle of Lebrija
Castle of Los Molares
Castle of Luna (Mairena del Alcor)
Castle of Marchenilla (Alcalá de Guadaíra)
Castle of Morón de la Frontera
Castle of Setefilla
Castle of Utrera
Tower Abd el Aziz
Torre del Oro
Torre de la Plata
Tower of la Rijana
Tower of los Herberos

Aragón edit

Huesca edit

Teruel edit

Zaragoza edit

Principality of Asturias edit

Basque Country edit

Araba edit

Castle of Zabala
Castle of Gebara
Castle of Eskibel
Castle of Ocio
Roman oppidum of Iruña-Veleia
Tower of Mendoza
Tower of los Varona
Tower of Barrón
Tower of Doña Otxanda in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Tower of Orgaz and Tower of Kondestable
Tower Negorta
Tower-House of Calderondar eta Salazatar
Tower-House of Galartza
Walls of Vitoria-Gasteiz
Old town of Vitoria-Gasteiz
Walled town of Labraza
Walled town of Antoñana
Walled town of Laguardia
Walled town of Gatzaga Buradon
Walled town of Urizaharra

Gipuzkoa edit

Castle of Gaztelu Zahar
Castle of Charles V
Castle of la Mota in the Mount Urgull in San Sebastián
Castle of Atxorrotx
Fort of San Marcos
Tower Idiakez
Tower of Sasiola
Tower Zumeltzegi
Tower-House Enparan
Walled town of Hondarribia
Walled town of Leintz-Gatzaga

Biscay edit

Balearic Islands edit

Canary Islands edit

Cantabria edit

Castile and León edit

Castle of Coca

Castle of Castrotorafe

Ávila edit

Castle of La Adrada
Castle of Don Álvaro de Luna (Arenas de San Pedro)
Castle of Arévalo
Castle of the Alcázar (Ávila)
Castle of El Barco de Ávila
Castle of Bonilla de la Sierra
Castle of Zurraquín (Cabezas del Villar)
Castle of El Mirón
Castle of Aunqueospese (Mironcillo)
Castle of Mombeltrán
Castle of the Duke of Montellano (Narros de Saldueña)
Castle Count of Rasura (Rasueros)
Castle of Castronuevo (Rivilla de Barajas)
Castle of Villaviciosa (Solosancho)
Castle of Villatoro (Villatoro)
Castle-Palace of Magalia (Las Navas del Marqués)
Walls of Ávila

Burgos edit

Castle of Albillos (Villagonzalo-Pedernales)
Castle of Arenillas de Muñó (Estepar)
Castle of Belorado
Castle of Burgos
Castle of los Cartagena (Olmillos de Sasamón)
Castle of Castrojeriz
Castle of Coruña del Conde
Castle of the Dukes of Frías (Frías)
Castle of Espinosa de los Monteros (Espinosa de los Monteros)
Castle of Frías
Castle of Haza
Castle of La Loja (Quintana de Valdivieso)
Castle of Malvecino (Población de Valdivieso)
Castle of Miranda de Ebro
Castle of Monastery of Rodilla
Castle of Olmillos de Sasamón
Castle of Pancorbo
Castle of Peñaranda de Duero (Peñaranda de Duero)
Castle of Picón de Lara (Lara de los Infantes)
Castle of Poza (Poza de la Sal)
Castle of Rebolledo (Rebolledo de la Torre)
Castle of Santa Gadea del Cid
Castle of Sotopalacios
Castle of Tedeja (Trespaderne)
Castle of Torregalindo
Castle of Torrepadierne (Pampliega)
Castle of Úrbel (Urbel del Castillo)
Castle of Villaute (Villaute)
Castle of Virtus
Castle of Velasco
Castle of Zumel
Fortress of Santa Engracia
Arco de Santa María
Tower of Bonifaz (Lomana)
Tower of Loja
Walls of Burgos

Leon edit

Palencia edit

Salamanca edit

Segovia edit

Soria edit

Castle of Almenar (Almenar de Soria)
Castle of Berlanga (Berlanga de Duero)
Castle of Osma (El Burgo de Osma)
Castle of Calatañazor
Castle of Caracena
Castle of Gormaz
Castle of Hinojosa de la Sierra
Castle of Magaña
Castle of Medinaceli
Castle of Monteagudo de las Vicarías
Castle of Montuenga
Castle of Peñalcázar
Castle of la Raya (Monteagudo de la Vicarías)
Castle of Rello
Castle of San Leonardo (San Leonardo de Yagüe)
Castle of San Pedro Manrique
Castle of Somaén
Castle of Soria
Castle of Ucero
Castle of Yanguas
Fortress of Serón de Nágima
Arab Walls of Ágreda

Valladolid edit

Zamora edit

Castile-La Mancha edit

Albacete edit

Ciudad Real edit

Cuenca edit

Guadalajara edit

Alcázar Real de Guadalajara
Alcazaba of Zorita, in Zorita de los Canes
Castle of Albalate de Tajuña, in the municipality of Luzaga
Castle of Albaráñez, near Salmerón
Castle of Alcocer
Castle of Alcorlo, Castle del Corlo or Castle del Congosto, in San Andrés del Congosto
Castle of Algar de Mesa
Castle of Alhóndiga
Castle of Almalaff, near Hortezuela de Océn
Castle of Almoguera
Castle of Alpetea, in the municipality of Villar de Cobeta
Castle of Anguix
Castle of Aragosa
Castle of Arbeteta
Castle of Atienza
Castle of Baides
Castle of Bembibre, in Castilmimbre
Castle of Berninches
Castle of Canales del Ducado
Castle of Casasana
Castle of Castejón de Henares
Castle of Castilforte
Castle of Castilnuevo
Castle of Cobeta
Castle of Codes
Castle of the Count Don Julián, in the municipality of Taravilla
Castle of Cogolludo
Castle del Cuadrón or Castle of Santa Ana, in Auñón
Castle of Cuevas Minadas
Castle of Diempures, in Cantalojas
Castle of Don Juan Manuel, in Cifuentes
Castle of Doña Urraca or Castle of Molinán, in Beleña de Sorbe
Castle of Durón
Castle of Embid
Castle of Escamilla
Castle of Escopete
Castle of Espinosa de Henares or El Palacio
Castle of Establés or Castle of the Bad Shadow
Castle of Fuentelencina and Tower of the Moor Cantana
Castle of la Fandiña, in the municipality of Taravilla
Castle of Fuentelsaz
Castle of Fuentelviejo
Castle of Fuentes, in Fuentes de la Alcarria
Castle of los Funes, in Villel de Mesa
Castle of Galve de Sorbe or Castle of the Zúñiga
Castle of Guijosa
Old castle of Guijosa
Castle of Guisema, in the municipality of Tortuera
Castle of Hita
Castle of Hueva
Castle of Inesque, between Angón and Pálmaces de Jadraque, in the municipality of Atienza
Castle of Jadraque or Castle of the Cid
Castle of Labros
Castle of La Yunta
Castle of Loranca de Tajuña
Castle of Mandayona
Castle of Mayrena, in Horche
Castle of Mesa, in the municipality of Villel de Mesa
Castle of Miedes de Atienza
Castle of Milmarcos
Castle of Mochales
Castle of Molina de Aragón or Fortress of Molina de los Caballeros
Castle of Mondéjar
Castle of Montarrón
Castle of the Moor, en Terzaga
Castle of the Moors (Luzón), near Luzón
Castle of the Moors (Tierzo), in Tierzo
Castle of Motos
Castle of Muduex
Castle of Murel de Tajo or Castle of Santa María de Murel, between Morillejo and Carrascosa de Tajo
Castle of Ocentejo
Castle of Orea
Castle of Palazuelos
Castle of Pareja
Castle of Pelegrina
Castle of Peña Bermeja, in Brihuega
Castle of Peñahora, near Humanes
Castle of Peñalén
Castle of Peñalver
Castle of las Peñas Alkalathem or Castle of las Peñas Alcalatenas, between Trillo and Viana de Mondéjar, on one of the Tetas de Viana
Pesebrico del Cid, Castle of Álvaro Yáñez or Castle of Barafáñez, near Romanones
Castle of Pioz
Castle of Rocha Frida, in the municipality of Atanzón
Castle of Rueda de la Sierra
Castle of Saceda, near Peralejos de las Truchas
Castle of Salmerón
Castle of Santiuste, near Corduente
Castle of Sigüenza
Castle of Riba de Santiuste
Castle of Tamajón
Castle of Tendilla
Castle of Trillo
Castle of Torija
Castle of Torresaviñán, Castle of San Juan (La Torresaviñán) or Castle of la Luna, in La Torresaviñán
Castle of Trijueque
Castle of Uceda
Castle of Valfermoso de Tajuña
Castle of Valtablado del Río
Castle of Vállaga, in the municipality of Illana
Castle of Viana de Mondéjar
Castle of Yunquera de Henares
Castle of Zafra (Guadalajara), near Campillo de Dueñas
Fortress of Alcolea de Torote, between Torrejón del Rey and Galápagos
Fortress of Las Inviernas
Fortress of Otilla
Fortress of Torrecuadrada de los Valles
Fortress of Torrecuadrada de Molina
Fort fusilier of San Francisco, in Guadalajara
Atalaya of los Casares, in the municipality of Riba de Saelices
Atalaya of San Marcos (Centenera de Suso), in the municipality of Atanzón
Tower of Séñigo, near Sigüenza
Tower of Aragón, in Molina de Aragón
Tower of Chilluentes, in the municipality of Tartanedo
Tower of Doña Blanca (Taravilla), in the municipality of Taravilla
Tower of la Almofala
Fort-House of La Bujeda, between Traíd and Otilla
Fort-House of Setiles
Fort-House of la Vega de Arias, near Tierzo
Casilla de los Moros, in Membrillera

Toledo edit

Catalonia edit

Barcelona edit

Tarragona edit

Girona edit

Lleida edit

Extremadura edit

Cáceres edit

Badajoz edit

Galicia edit

A Coruña edit

Castle of Naraío, (San Sadurniño)
Castle of Andrade or Fortress da Nogueirosa, (Pontedeume)
Castle da Lúa, (Rianxo)
Castle da Rocha Forte, (Santiago de Compostela)
Castle da Rocha Branca, (Padrón)
Castle of Fruzo, (Arzúa)
Castle of Mesía, (Mesía)
Castle of San Carlos (Finisterre)
Castle da Palma
Castle of Moeche
Castle of Vimianzo, (Vimianzo)
Castle of Cardenal, (Corcubión)
Castle of Casón, (Ortigueira)
Castle do Pico Sacro, (Boqueixón)
Castle do Príncipe, (Cee)
Castle do Soberano, (Camariñas)
Castle of Santo Antón
Castle of San Felipe, (Ferrol)
Fortress da Mota de Ois, (Coirós)
Fort of Santa Cruz, (Oleiros)
Torreón dos Andrade, (Pontedeume)
Towers of Altamira, (Brión)
Towers of Mens, (Malpica de Bergantiños)
Towers do Allo, (Zas)
Tower of Penela, (Cabana de Bergantiños)
Tower of Celas de Peiro, (Culleredo)
Tower of Cillobre, (A Laracha)
Tower of Figueroa, (Abegondo)
Tower of Hercules, (A Coruña)
Tower of Lama, (Mañón)
Tower of Nogueira, (Coristanco)
Tower of Orseño, (Porto do Son)
Tower of Xunqueiras, (A Pobra do Caramiñal)
Tower do Concello, (Betanzos)
Tower pazo de Vilardefrancos, (Carballo)
Tower of Goiáns, (Boiro)
Walls of Santiago de Compostela

Lugo edit

Castle da Frouseira, (Foz)
Castle da Mota (Guntín), (Guntín)
Castle da Pobra de Parga, (Guitiriz)
Castle of Amarante, (Antas de Ulla)
Castle of Arcos, (Chantada)
Castle of Burón, (A Fonsagrada)
Castle of Caldaloba, (Cospeito)
Castle of Carbedo, (O Courel)
Castle do Castrodouro, (Alfoz)
Castle of Castroverde, (Castroverde)
Castle of Doiras, (Cervantes)
Castle of Maside, (Pantón)
Castle of Miraz, (Friol)
Castle of Monforte de Lemos, (Monforte de Lemos)
Castle of Navia, (Navia de Suarna)
Castle of Pambre, (Palas de Rei)
Castle of Penas, (Monterroso)
Castle of Peñaflor, (Riotorto)
Castle of Saavedra, (Begonte)
Castle of Sarria, (Sarria)
Castle of Sequeiros, (Quiroga)
Castle of Torés, (As Nogais)
Castle of Tovar, (Lourenzá)
Castle of Vilalba, (Vilalba)
Castle Tower of Novaes, (Quiroga)
Fortress of San Paio de Narla, (Friol)
Fort of San Damián, (Ribadeo)
Tower Fortress of Friol, (Friol)
Tower da Bastida, (Pantón)
Tower da Candaira, (O Saviñao)
Tower of Doncos, (As Nogais)
Tower of Gorrete, (Mondoñedo)
Tower of Hospital, (O Incio)
Tower of Marce, (Pantón)
Tower of Moreda, (Monforte de Lemos)
Tower of Quindimil, (Palas de Rei)
Tower of Sobrada, (Outeiro de Rei)
Tower of Taboada, (Taboada)
Tower of Taboi, (Outeiro de Rei)
Tower of Támoga, (Cospeito)
Tower do Mouro, (Riotorto)
Fort-House of Lusio, (Samos)
Tower-House of Friol, (Friol)
Tower-House of Güimil, (O Saviñao)
Walls of Lugo

Ourense edit

Pontevedra edit

Community of Madrid edit

Region of Murcia edit

Navarre edit

La Rioja edit

Castle of Aguas Mansas in Agoncillo, restored and converted in the town hall.
Castle of Aguilar del Río Alhama, there are only a few ruins.
Castle of Arnedo
Castle of Autol
Castle of Castañares de las Cuevas
Castle of Clavijo
Castle of Cornago
Castle of Davalillo
Castle of Herce
Castle of Jubera
Castle of Leiva
Castle of Quel
Castle of Sajazarra
Castle of San Vicente de la Sonsierra
Castle of Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón
Tower fort of Anguciana
Walls of the Revellín (Logroño)

Valencian Community edit

Alicante edit

Castellón edit

Valencia edit

Number of fortifications by provinces edit

In the following table, are related the various Spanish provinces, ordered according to the number of existing fortifications, both castles themselves as towers, watchtowers, bunkers, walls and castros^[4]

It attached the references to some of the relevant statements of Cultural Assets of the different Councils of Culture of the Autonomous Communities:

Andalusia: Councils of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía^[5]

Province	Total of fortifications	Castles and similars	Towers, watchtowers and bunkers	Walls and castros	Others
Jaén	237^[6]	97^[7]	126^[8]	14^[9]	1
Almería	126^[10]	81	54	54	14
Guadalajara	198	124	27	44	3
Cuenca	175	100	30	32	13
Cádiz	161	37	71	31	1
Soria	121	49	41	24	7
Zaragoza	105	82	9	10	4
Barcelona	104	97	0	0	7
Navarra	95	61	8	15	11
Teruel	95	56	12	16	11
Burgos	91	44	28	16	3
Cáceres	84	67	3	11	3
Biscay	78	4	65	6	3
Alicante	73	45	20	7	1
Huesca	70	59	4	6	1
Toledo	70	46	7	12	5
Lleida	68	52	10	6	0
Madrid	67	30	18	15	4
Valencia	63	37	11	13	2
Badajoz	62	48	2	11	1
Murcia	58	43	7	7	1
Castellón	58	30	11	14	3
Albacete	52	34	6	11	1
Valladolid	50	35	2	12	1
Tarragona	48	46	1	1	0
La Rioja	48	27	11	8	2
León	47	30	7	10	0
Álava	45	6	31	8	0
Salamanca	41	24	7	10	0
Ciudad Real	36	27	4	4	1
Girona	35	22	2	10	1
Segovia	32	15	5	10	2
Ávila	29	21	1	6	1
Balearic Islands	28	12	15	1	0
Cantabria	28	8	14	6	0
Lugo	26	25	0	1	0
Palencia	25	18	4	3	0
Zamora	25	13	1	9	2
Asturias	24	7	10	7	0
Santa Cruz de Tenerife	24	10	8	1	0
Ourense	18	15	0	2	1
A Coruña	14	14	0	0	0
Las Palmas	12	8	3	1	0
Ceuta	11	2	6	2	1
Pontevedra	10	9	1	0	0
Melilla	9	5	0	4	0
Gipuzkoa	5	3	1	1	0

References edit

^ Historia (October 22, 2015). "Apéndice I. Los lugares del Temple". In Martínez, Gemma; Mínguez, Nines (eds.). Templarios. Del origen de las cruzadas al final de la Orden del Temple (1st ed.). Madrid: Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, S. A. U. p. 417. ISBN 9788401015731.
^ "Castillo de Corbera" (in Spanish). Castell de Cullera. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
^ "El Castillo" (in Spanish). Castillos de Espana. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
^ According to Ibercastillos: Fortifications of Spain and Castillosnet: Castles of Spain Archived 2014-05-28 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Guia Digital IAPH".
^ for Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Total Fortifications
^ Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Castles
^ Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Towers, watchtowers and bunkers^{[dead link]}
^ Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Walls and Castros^{[dead link]}
^ Almería — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Total Fortifications

External links edit

[1] Historia (October 22, 2015). "Apéndice I. Los lugares del Temple". In Martínez, Gemma; Mínguez, Nines (eds.). Templarios. Del origen de las cruzadas al final de la Orden del Temple (1st ed.). Madrid: Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, S. A. U. p. 417. ISBN 9788401015731.

[2] "Castillo de Corbera" (in Spanish). Castell de Cullera. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

[3] "El Castillo" (in Spanish). Castillos de Espana. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

[4] According to Ibercastillos: Fortifications of Spain and Castillosnet: Castles of Spain Archived 2014-05-28 at the Wayback Machine

[5] "Guia Digital IAPH".

[6] r Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Total Fortifications

[7] Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Castles

[8] Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Towers, watchtowers and bunkers^{[dead link]}

[9] Jaén — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Walls and Castros^{[dead link]}

[10] Almería — Council of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía for Cultural Heritage#Total Fortifications

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