Chirel Castle had an Muslim origin. The current castle was built after the Christian Conquest, which took place in the thirteenth century, when the Moors were expelled.
During this time, the fortress of Chirel was used by the Christians as a base of operations, under the command of the king of Aragon, James I the Conqueror, since they were at war with the Muslim leader al-Azraq.
Around the year 1748, a natural catastrophe occurred, an earthquake of great magnitude that ended up collapsing an important part of the fortress.
Today, Chirel Castle is on the waiting list to be rebuilt. In any case, it is an ideal place to visit, since, although they have not repaired their structures, they have done so with the roads that lead to the castle, so that it is a safe place, away from possible collapses, and a great tourist attraction.
If we go today to the Castle of Chirel, we will find an important part of its Main Tower, its double wall and two other large towers, and, also, a large cistern, which is still standing. In addition, you can contemplate the impressive view of the Cinto del Castillo annex, the Cintos de Sácaras annex and the Cerrador, and the Cortes reservoir.
References:House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.