Castles in the province of Toledo
TOLEDO, A LAND FILLED WITH FORTHEADS WHOSE IMPOSING SILhouettes give the LANDSCAPE ITS SINGULARITY.
It is necessary to go back to the times of the Reconquest, in the middle of the Middle Ages, to learn about the origins of these spaces that served to establish the defence of these conquered lands and are therefore strategically located, sometimes on high hills and steep places that dominate the immense plains around them; sometimes on plains and in other cases, in privileged places to control crossroads, rivers and gorges.
MOST OUTSTANDING CASTLES IN OUR PROVINCE
-Castillo de San Servando: It is located next to the Alcántara Bridge on the other side of the Tagus River at the entrance or exit to the east of the city and next to the Infantry Academy. Tajo at the entrance or exit to the east of the city and next to the Infantry Academy. Its construction began in 1024 as a monastery under the reign of Alfonso VI. the reign of Alfonso VI being its Mudejar military architecture, one of the best in Spain.
In 1386 it was rebuilt by Archbishop Don Pedro Tenorio, since it was abandoned and was in very bad conditions. It was rebuilt with masonry and red brick, has a square floor plan and cylindrical towers. Its doors are Mudejar.
It is currently the San Servando Castle Hostel managed by the Junta de Castilla La Mancha, is fully restored, where you can stay with more than 1.1,000 years of Spanish history
Only the exterior can be visited.
MORE INFORMATION: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-san-servando-de-toledo
Map of castles of Toledo
Consuegra Castle
-Castle of La Muela de Consuegra: stands on the top of the Calderico hill, surrounded by windmills. Its origins date back to a Muslim fortress from the Caliphate period (10th century), the aspect that we appreciate today in its structure is due to the impressive work of military architecture that the Knights of the knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem put in place, after the cession by Alfonso VIII of the old fortification and the alfoz of Consuegra to the Order.
The castle, like all monuments and buildings, underwent transformations, reforms and restorations, the uses were adapted to the needs and socio-political changes of the time. It lived its splendour during the 13th and 15th centuries and, although it continued to be inhabited, it suffered a gradual but inexorable process of abandonment until its definitive decline with the disentailment of Mendizábal in the 19th century. Finally, after the will and perseverance of the inhabitants of Consuegra, the castle was gradually restored to its former splendour.
VISIT INFORMATION
Teléfono: 925 593 118 / 925 47 57 31/627905216 (también whatsApp) Oficina de turismo
Lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado y domingo 10.00h a 14.00h y 16.00h a 18.30h
Visits to the interior of the castle are organised with a tour guide.
Information and booking on the Tourist Office telephone numbers.
Dramatised visits to the Castle (Vitela Teatro)
Reserved tickets can be collected from the castle ticket office and are to be paid for in cash on collection.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.consuegra.es/es/descubre/monumentos/castillo-de-consuegra
-Guadamur Castle:is one of the best preserved today; It is a stately palace from the 15th century, in which the slender prismatic keep stands out, dominating over the whole of the enclosure, formed by walls and cylindrical towers. The beautiful architecture of the castle with a clear Italian influence has remained practically intact to the present day. Its authorship is attributed to Juan Guas.
VISIT INFORMATION
Phone: 925 29 15 60 turismo@guadamur.es
Visit: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday de 09:00 a 14:00 hs.
Reservations are required.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.guadamur.es/turismo/
-Polán Castle: It is the remains of a castle built between the eleventh and twelfth centuries, only two high masonry towers are preserved , which show us what was a what was once a great late medieval fortress on the plain, which is currently located within the conglomerate of houses of a of houses in a neighborhood of the population.
It is owned by the City Council of Polán, and can be visited on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 13:00 free of charge.
MORE INFORMATION: https://aytopolan.es/descubre-polan/patrimonio-artistico/patrimonio/333-castillo
Castle of Guadamur
Castle of San Martin de Montalbán
-Castle of Montalbán: Originallybuilt as a Muslim citadel and later owned by the Templars, it is so robust that there is no evidence that it was ever attacked. Your visit is an opportunity to get to know a defensive castle, in its most literal meaning.
Built on a place cut by the gorge of the Torcón river, it only has defenses on its south side, the only one that can be attacked: moat, semicircular crenellated tower with arrow slits, exterior barbican, and loopholes. The towers albarranas, of pentagonal plant, present pointed arches and lapidary inscriptions and marks of stonemasonry in their ashlars. Inside we find remains of the original Muslim citadel, much smaller, as well as two subway cisterns. On some occasions it was owned by royalty and on many other occasions by the nobility.
VISIT INFORMATION
Guided tours by prior reservation only, by calling 627 562 921
Oscar Luengo: Official Guide of the House of Osuna and Palace
Hours: Saturdays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. Closed from 1 February to 30 May.
MORE INFORMATION: https://sanmartindemontalban.com/castillo-de-montalban/
-Castle of Barcience: Only its enormous lion rampant, engraved in stone on the tower of the homage, is worth the visit. It is the heraldic emblem of the Silva family, counts of Cifuentes. It was built by this family in the 15th century.
We can walk through its large courtyard, and the almost square floor that presents, indicating by its size and the time in which it was erected, which served as a residence rather than a defensive fort. Two interesting cubes are indications of the barrier and the moat that protected the entrance gate to the enclosure, and of which there are no remains. Three towers, two of circular plant, another square, and the one of the homage, compose the rest of the enclosure.
Juan de Silva, first Count of Cifuentes, began the construction of the fortress in the 14th century.XIV, which would conclude his grandson, of the same name. It was equipped with artillery and garrison in the 16th century.
VISIT INFORMATION
Private property, only outside viewing possible For more information contact Ayuntamiento 925 760 718
MORE INFORMATION: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-barcience
Castle of Barcience
Escalona Castle
-Castle of Escalona: It is a Gothic castle with a Mudejar interior palace, famous at the time for its sumptuousness, and built by the Constable Álvaro de Luna. An excellent opportunity to get to know a fortress of military and residential use, with a lot of history. Escalona Castle was initially a Roman fortress that was occupied in the Muslim period occupied during the Muslim period and later taken by Alfonso VI of Castile.
The sturdy keep of the palace is the structure that structure that stands out most of the whole complex. Its plan is square, it is 22 mts. of height, and it is closed by a rake and buharda.
VISIT INFORMATION
Only the exterior can be visited. For more information contact Ayuntamiento 925 780 012
MORE INFORMATION:
-Castle of La Vela de Maqueda: Castle of original battlements, located at one end of the old wall of Maqueda. The parapet and arrow slits are well preserved, that will allow us to have a clear idea of how it organized its defense.
Its main door, oriented to the north, has the heraldic coat of arms of the Cárdenas-Enríquez family, a married couple that in the 15th century rebuilt the fortress on top of another of Muslim origin. It was used as Civil Guard barracks until recently.
VISIT INFORMATION
Only the exterior can be visited. For more information, contact Ayuntamiento 925 790 001
MORE INFORMATION: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-maqueda-o-castillo-de-la-vela
Castle of La Vela de Maqueda
Castle of Oropesa
-Castle of Oropesa: This castle is actually formed by two: the old castle, a partially preserved Arab fortress, and the Palace of the Álvarez de Toledo, of Oropesa, from the 15th century, converted into a Parador Nacional. Its stone staircase is unique in Spain.
The old castle was erected by the Arabs between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, over a Roman fortress. Rectangular in plan and with four circular towers at the corners, only two of them remain. The new castle was erected in the 15th century, and inside there is a large square, former parade ground, and the scene of cultural activities.
VISIT INFORMATION
Phones 925 430 201 - 659 539 077 Tourist office
Timetable: from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 14:00 h. and from 16:00 to 18:00 h.
Sundays and holidays, from 11:00 to 14:00 h.
Guided tour of the castle, the parish church, the church of San Bernardo and the old Hospital San Juan Bautista. Book in advance at the tourist office
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.turismoropesatoledo.es/el-castillo
-Castle-Palace of San Silvestre de Novés: The castle of San Silvestre is a building of small dimensions for the dimensions for the standards used at that time, which was built by the commander Gutierre de Cárdenas in the second half of the 15th century. It is conserved in good condition two of its walls and it has as a singularity the fact of lacking of tower of the homage, as well as its double merlon battlements.
It is privately owned and cannot be visited.
MORE INFORMATION: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-san-silvestre
-Castle of Almonacid de Toledo: From any point that we approach to Almonacid de Toledo and from dozens of kilometers away Toledo and from dozens of kilometers away, on a promontory, as if it still defended the road to La Mancha, the figure of the castle can be seen. It is a good example of a 14th century castle, destined to permanent residence of troops and to constitute a military population of surveillance and defense.
The first documentary reference to this castle is of Muslim origin and dates from the year 848. In the 11th century it passed into the hands of King Alfonso VI as part of the dowry of his wife Zaida, daughter of the Moorish king. Later Alfonso VI donated it to the Cathedral of Toledo, being reformed in the 14th century by Archbishop Don Pedro Tenorio.
Access is free, on foot or by vehicle along a dirt road.
MORE INFORMATION: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-almonacid-de-toledo
Almonacid Castle
Peñas Negras Castle
- Peñas Negras Castle: Built in the 10th century under Arab rule. X under Arab rule, the Castle of Peñas Negras passed, at the end of the Reconquest, to Alfonso VII and, later, to the Order of Santiago, to whom it belonged until the XVII century, when King Philip II sold the town of Mora and all its properties, including its castle, to Fernando de Rojas Guevara, becoming part of his lordship.
The fortress is in the shape of a ship, is built on the Sierra del Castillo, in a north-south position, and is divided into two parts, separated by a moat. Its parade ground is flanked to the east by defensive towers, and limited to the west by a natural moat from which a spring flows and which is the base of the Caballo wall, which houses the first Christian church founded after the end of the Reconquest.
Mora Castle is crowned by the keep, divided into two floors, its lower part serving as a dungeon.
VISIT INFORMATION
The Mora tourist office offers guided tours at certain times of the year. More information about Tourism and Promotion 925 300 025. Ext. 170
MORE INFORMATION: http://www.mora.es/areas/turismo/lugares_interes/castillo
-Manzaneque Castle: It was built by Doña María de Orozco and her third husband Don Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa at the end of the 14th century, to secure their properties in Manzaneque, as an exempt entity of the Señorío de Orgaz.
After several purchases and sales, it remains in the hands of his grandson Don Iñigo de Ávalos, who subjected it to several extensions to improve its defense. When he died, it passed into the custody of the descendants of Doña María ' s second marriage, the Counts of Fuensalida. In 1487 , Manzaneque was sold next to the town of Cedillo to the secretary of the Royal Council of the Catholic Kings Cedillo to the secretary of the Royal Council of the Catholic Monarchs, Don Alvarez de Toledo.
Abandoned, it fell into ruin until its restoration at the beginning of the 20th century. Of square plan, an advanced body, flanked by two solid cubicles, protects the door, with a pointed entrance arch. The keep occupies half of its space.
VISIT INFORMATION
Today it is the seat of the Town Hall To find out if it is possible to visit the interior, we recommend that you contact the Town Hall on 925 344 720
MORE INFORMATION https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-manzaneque
-Castle of Guadalerzas: The first fortress, Arab, protected the passage to the Muslim territory. Once conquered by Alfonso VI, it was ceded to the Order of Calatrava, which built a hospital on it. At the end of the 12th century it was already erected, and when the border was established in Sierra Morena, it continued to be a hostel and hospital for the Knights of Santiago and the Temple.
This castle, which is located in the town of Los Yébenes, has a very interesting structure, because it has an immense tower of homage as a central body, designed as a hospital for the knights of Santiago and the Temple, when they were wounded or sick. A new vision of constructions that we always considered defensive.
VISIT INFORMATION
It is located on a private property. To find out if it is possible to visit it , please contact the Tourism Office of Los Yébenes at the following telephone number: 925 322 512 or e-mail: turismo@losyebenes.es
MORE INFORMATION: https://turismo.losyebenes.es/que-ver/castillo-de-guadalerzas
Manzaneque castle
Orgaz Castle
-Castle of Orgaz: This fortress stands to the west of the town. Built at the end of the S.XIV, has a rectangular plan that loses its original shape due to the existence of a quadrangular tower of a quadrangular tower and the semicircular apse of the interior chapel.
In each corner and in the center of the north curtain, there is a sentry box made of ashlars with its modillions and arrow slits. The access door consists of a semicircular arch with voussoirs and and framed by columns with the coat of arms on the keystone.
VISIT INFORMATION
The visit to the castle is guided and with limited capacity Call the Tourist Office for more information. Tel. 925 317 685 / 661939546.
-Winter: Monday to Friday at 13:00 hours
Saturday at 11:30 am, 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm .
Sundays and holidays: 11:30 a.m. and 1:00p.m.
-Summer: Monday to Friday at 13:00 hours.
Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00, 11:30 and 13:00 hours
MORE INFORMATION: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/yacimientos-visitables/castillo-de-orgaz
-Castle of Puñoenrostro: located in Seseña, it is a typical castle of the late Middle Ages, built in the 14th century, that still allows to appreciate typical elements such as the drawbridge, or a wide moat around it. Of impressive dimensions, its main tower is 35 meters high, and the enclosure that surrounds it, 40 meters on each side and almost 7 meters wide. In short, an almost impregnable fortress by the standards of the time.
VISIT INFORMATION
Exterior only. The castle is private property. Not open to visitors.
MORE INFORMATION: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-punoenrostro-de-sesena
-Castle of Malpica de Tajo: This is one of the few Spanish castles that has remained inhabited since its construction, in the manner of the French castle-palaces. It can only be visited from the outside, but it is worth walking around its perimeter to get a true picture of what these fortresses were like when they were in use. It is located in the town of Malpica de Tajo. It has a square floor plan and its corners are reinforced by quadrangular towers at the corners of its walls. The keep is the dwelling of the Dukes of Arión. Its entire perimeter is surrounded by a moat, except on the side protected by the Tagus River.
VISIT INFORMATION
Exterior only. The castle is private property. Not open to visitors
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/castillo-de-malpica-del-tajo-20564/descripcion/
Malpica Castle
Castle of Casarrubios del monte
-Castle of Casarrubios del Monte: Of quadrangular plant with octagonal towers in the corners, the fortress was built in the Herrería or Eras Bajas, outside the walls of the wall, now disappeared, which defended the town. Interesting are its octagonal towers, an architectural advance of the XV century, in which it was built. Symmetrically, the keep also has three octagonal towers, smaller, at its three angles.
It was ordered to be built by Don Juan Chacón, son of Don Gonzalo Chacón, and Adelantado of Murcia, for the adornment of the lordship that his second son would inherit. It always belonged to the lords and counts of Casarrubios, titles and properties that passed to the Duchy of Alba, who, in an attempt to get rid of their small properties, sold the castle and county palace to a neighbor of the municipality in 1899. It can be considered a stately castle of military structure.
VISIT INFORMATION
Exterior only.
MORE INFORMATION: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-casarrubios-del-monte
-Castle of Mascaraque: It is an interesting castle that was a nexus of between those of Almonacid and Zorita, reinforcing together with them a strong defensive line in front of the Muslim territories. Curious are its five-pointed stars in the advantages of its tower, a sign of its mixed structure between palace and fortress.
VISIT INFORMATION
Private property, and surrounded by a fence, only its exterior can be visited.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/castillo-de-mascaraque-98464/descripcion/
-Castle of Cuerva: The father of Garcilaso de la Vega, great military man and poet of the Golden Age, was the owner of this castle. A castle without walls or arrow slits, a good example of the military fortifications built during the reign of Alfonso X the Wise.
The castle never had a keep, nor moat, serving its walls as a rampart, with a rampart that extends around the perimeter, and of which only the machicolations remain. In the walls we find many large windows , but no arrow slits.
VISIT INFORMATION
It is owned by the Cuerva Town Hall , and can be visited freely.
MORE INFORMATION: https://cuerva.es/patrimonio/
Cuerva Castle
Mejorada Castle
-Castle of Mejorada: A castle erected to defend the territorial interests of the lords of Mejorada against the Council of Talavera. lords of Mejorada against the Council of Talavera. It has very military characteristics, different from other castle-palaces of the 15th century.
The walls of the east and south sides are still standing. With a square floor plan, it has circular towers in its corners. To the west, the main entrance gives access to the keep, with a rectangular floor plan.
Juan García de Toledo, a knight from Toledo, was the first lord of Mejorada in the 13th century, although the current fortress can be dated between the middle of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century. It was occupied later, as evidenced by remodeling in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, although already in the 19th century it was in a state of ruin.
VISIT INFORMATION
Free access.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.mejorada.info/el-castillo.html
-Castle of Dos Hermanas: Located in the town of Navahermosa, it is a Templar castle raised on one of the two rocks that give name to the ancient village that grew up under its protection, that of the sister crags. In its ruins we will see a magnificent panoramic view of the Montes de Toledo, and its sea of olive trees.
Its irregular floor plan is adapted to the cliff on which it sits. Its only access, through its pointed arch door, allows us to contemplate a reduced parade ground, protected by a barrier or wall. It preserves three facades, and the holes where the timbers that supported the ramparts were inserted.
It is considered to have originated as an Arab stronghold, ceded by King Alfonso VIII to the knight Alfonso Téllez, who in turn sold it to the Archbishop of Toledo Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada, who in turn sold it to the city. Once the danger of the border was removed, and as was usual in the towns built on high ground around fortresses, its inhabitants moved to the lowlands of Navahermosa.
VISIT INFORMATION
Of free access, it can be almost reached by car, by car, along a track, and then a short walk.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/castillo-de-dos-hermanas-50264/descripcion/
-Castle of Oreja: Its great tower was a spectator of important battles between Muslims and Christians, since the ancient Roman town of Aurelia -Oreja- was fundamental to prevent access to the city of Toledo, and the Taifa kingdom of Cuenca.
In addition to its large rectangular tower, we can see the remains of the wall, extending along the entire length of the top of the hill on which it sits. We also find the remains of a church and a cistern. Interesting are the remains of wooden machicolations. Attached to the castle we can see the remains of the town of Oreja, now disappeared.
VISIT INFORMATION
Free access.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/castillo-de-oreja-98064/descripcion/
Dos Hermanas Castle
Villalba Castle
-Castle of Villalba: A visit to its ruins is an opportunity to see a site that was used by the Romans site that was used by the Romans as well, to guard the Emérita Augusta road, that linked Toledo with Merida, the Muslims to protect the Caliphate of Cordoba from the Christians, and the latter to advance their conquest to the south.
We can still see the remains of its outer barrier. Of the four towers that crowned its corners, only one remains on the main façade, while the central rectangular towers are preserved. The access door, with a semicircular arch, is protected by two towers. The interior is destroyed.
Of Muslim origin, it took advantage of structures from Roman times. It belonged to the Order of the Temple after the reconquest.
VISIT INFORMATION
Free access.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.ayuntamientodecebolla.com/conocer-cebolla-monumentos-castillo-de-villalba.htm
-Gálvez Castle: Some 4 km to the N.W. of the village are the remains of a castle dating from between the 13th and 14th centuries. The original fortification had a quadrilateral ground plan with semicircular corner towers, of which only three are still standing. The fourth tower and all the curtains have disappeared, most probably as a result of the building's use as a quarry. A study of the aerial photograph reveals the existence of a large keep in the centre of the west wall, which projects outwards in the manner of the Albarran towers. Its location on a flat terrain and the typology of the fortress suggest that it is a late construction linked to the late medieval feudal phenomenon. Perhaps its abandonment and subsequent ruin is due to the construction of a fortified house in the main square of Gálvez, next to the church. To the N.W. of the castle, on the hill of Santa Brígida, you can see the foundations that formed the ground plan of the razed hermitage of the same name, with a hall plan and semicircular apse, measuring approximately 15x6 m.
VISIT INFORMATION
Access is free, on foot or by vehicle along a dirt road.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.turismoprovinciatoledo.es/galvez/
Santo Domingo-Caudilla Castle
-Castillo de Santo Domingo- Caudilla:Late stately castle. It was ordered to be built by the marshal of Castile. It was a small palatial castle, not a military castle, with a rectangular ground plan and a moat around it. Nowadays , only the ruins of the medieval castle remain. Only the north side is preserved, with a round tower and a wall with a noble coat of arms and loopholes. The coat of arms has the coats of arms of the lords of the castle (Rivadeneyra), with a cross with five shells. The wall is two metres thick. On the missing sides there were corner towers, with the entrance to the north of the building. It is a clear example of a fortress-palace. The keep was made up of three floors, with windows on the two central floors, and the coat of arms. It dates back to the time of Juan II. Pedro de Rivadeneyra, marshal of Castile, lived there and rebuilt it.
VISIT INFORMATION
Access is free, on foot or by vehicle along a dirt road.
MORE INFORMATION: http://santodomingo-caudilla.es/monumentos/
-Castle of Bayuela: The Castle of Bayuela, also known as the Castle of the Counts of Oropesa, is located in the village of Castillo de Bayuela, in the province of Toledo, Spain.
The original castle was built in the 13th century by the Muslims and was later rebuilt and enlarged by the rebuilt and enlarged by the Christians during the Middle Ages. Its strategic location on top of a hill allowed it to control the trade route between Toledo and Talavera de la Reina. allowed it to control the trade route between Toledo and Talavera de la Reina.
Over the centuries, the castle changed hands several times, and in 1434 it was bought by the Count of Oropesa, who made it his residence and carried out a major refurbishment, adding a keep and a chapel.
Today, the castle is in ruins and much of its original structure has disappeared. However, remains of the walls can still be seen, the keep, the chapel and other auxiliary buildings can still be seen.
The castle of Bayuela is an interesting place to visit for those who enjoy history and archaeology. for those who enjoy history and archaeology, for its fascinating past tells a story of struggle and conquest of struggle and conquest over the centuries. In addition, its hilltop location offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, its hilltop location offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
VISIT INFORMATION
Access is free, on foot or by vehicle along a dirt road.
MORE INFORMATION: https://castillosdelolvido.com/castillo-de-bayuela/
Bayuela Castle
