Marmionda Castle

Portezuelo, Spain

The construction of the Marmionda Castle dates back to the 12th century, shortly after the beginning of the invasion of Al-Andalus by the Almohads (1147), who ended the Almoravid empire. In 1167, it was conquered by the Christian king of León, Fernando II, who handed it over to the Order of the Temple. Almost thirty years later, in 1196, it was recaptured by the Almohads. In 1213, it was definitively reconquered by Alfonso IX of León, who gave it to the Order of San Julian del Pereiro, later known as the Order of Alcántara.

From Visigothic times to the Middle Ages, there was no better defensive element for the inhabitants of the Alagón Valley than this castle. It was a strategically well-positioned fortress, south of Coria and on the way to Cáceres, with a prior passage through the Tajo River valley. Throughout its history, various reforms took place, with the 16th century being the last of some importance. It was abandoned from the second half of the 17th century.

It is of a square base and consists of the following elements: a pair of circular towers, the keep on the northeast side, and a second tower on the northwest side that was recently reconstructed and restored but whose aesthetics disrupt the overall harmony of the ensemble; large walls (curtains) crowned with crenellations with pyramidal tops; a barbican in front of the wall; an extensive courtyard; and a large cistern.

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Portezuelo, Spain
See all sites in Portezuelo

Details

Founded: c. 1150
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

More Information

www.turismoextremadura.com

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Antoni ktoni (2 years ago)
Someone started protecting the ruins of the castle against further degradation, and the information billboards come from the 1990s and are barely or completely illegible.
Ignacio C.c (2 years ago)
Beautiful castle ruins. Located in a privileged landscape environment. The vultures will fly over you during your visit, for sure. And at the foot of the castle is Portezuelo.
LuuheFer (3 years ago)
The Castle is under construction, but it ends up being very beautiful to visit. They have a fantastic view. It just needed to be signposted that there is nowhere to park your car near the Castle.
Cent Ideas (3 years ago)
Access is via a narrow dirt lane where you have to climb with some care if you are not in an all-terrain vehicle. The state of both the fortress and the informative signs is quite lamentable, although as a fan of old architecture, every visit is worth it. The views from the top too.
Raúl Bueno (3 years ago)
It is the second time that I am going to see this castle and the truth is that it is very neglected...it is a pity because wonders like these must be taken care of since they are part of our history... The way up is somewhat regular and when you get to the top by car there is only room to park two cars. Nice castle that looks at the inhabitants of Portezuelo.
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