Top 8 Castles around Montiel

You absolutely must visit this unique and striking castle. I recommend climbing to the top to enjoy the views from its privileged elevated position and imagining the times when such thick walls were necessary.

Montiel Castle, also known as the Star Castle, is one of the most important historical sites in Castile-La Mancha. Built by the Arabs in the 9th century, under the name of Munt-Yil, it was part of the defense of the Islamic territory against the Christian advance. It was conquered by the Christians in 1227, after a long siege, and passed into the hands of the Order of Santiago, who made it the center of the Commandery of Campo de Montiel. The Tragedy of Montiel (1369) occurred here, where King Peter I of Castile was assassinated by his brother Henry of Trastámara, with Bertrand Duguesclin famously saying: "I neither remove nor appoint a king, but I help my lord." It is currently in a state of partial ruin, but excavations and guided tours are taking place.

A magnificent example of a montane castle, meaning one whose shape adapts exactly to the hill on which it stands. Its most beautiful feature is the main gate, opening into a bend in the wall and built as a reentrant in its uniform circular path. The magnificent ashlar work with which it was built is worth a visit alone, as is the pointed arch between its two strong towers. Erected by a Muslim garrison in the mid-12th century, it was continually conquered and recaptured, and Christians and Arabs alternated possession many times. It came to belong to the Order of Santiago in 1214, a possession confirmed by a papal bull. When the Alhambra district was divided between the Orders of Calatrava and Saint John, it lost its strategic importance and was gradually abandoned. The most curious thing about the castle is that, being mountainous, it never had an external enclosure or barbican, but rather a covered or protected path in its last section by a small wall, which allowed access under protected conditions.

A magnificent example of a mountain castle, that is, one whose shape is exactly adapted to the hill on which it stands. Its most beautiful element is the main gate, opening at a bend in the wall and built as a re-entrant in its homogeneous circular path. The magnificent stonework with which it was built is worth the visit alone, as well as the pointed arch between its two strong towers. Built by a Muslim garrison in the mid-12th century, it was continually conquered and lost, and Christians and Arabs took turns in its possession many times. It came to belong to the Order of Santiago in 1214, possession confirmed by a papal bull. When the Alhambra district was divided between the orders of Calatrava and San Juan, it lost its strategic importance and was gradually abandoned. The most curious thing about the castle is that, because it is a mountain castle, it never had an external enclosure or barbican, but rather a covered or protected path in its last section by a small wall, which allowed access under protected conditions.

A magnificent example of a mountain castle, meaning its shape is perfectly adapted to the hill on which it stands. Its most beautiful feature is the main gate, opening into a bend in the wall and built as a re-entrant in its uniform circular layout. The magnificent stonework alone makes it worth visiting, as does the pointed arch between its two strong towers. Erected by a Muslim garrison in the mid-12th century, it was repeatedly conquered and lost, with Christians and Arabs alternating its possession many times. It came under the control of the Order of Santiago in 1214, a possession confirmed by a papal bull. When the district of Alhambra was divided between the Orders of Calatrava and Saint John, it lost its strategic importance and was gradually abandoned. The most curious thing about the castle is that, being in the mountains, it never had an outer enclosure or barbican, but rather a covered or protected path in its final stretch, enclosed by a small wall, which allowed access under protected conditions.

Small population center that is located in the south of the province and one of the main points is its tower, called Ben Yucef Castle and which by its name seems to be of Arab origin.

At one end of the town of Albaladejo is its castle which is together with the church of Santiago Apóstol. The walls are still there and can be visited!

From the lower part of the hill where the Castillo de Albaladejo is located, we can find good views of the town as a whole.