Begun in the 16th century by Hernando de Vega over remains of a 10th century castle, the Grajal de Campos Castle was finished by his son Juan de Vega y Acuna, count of Grajal. Designed to withstand the use of artillery the castle has sloped walls and its overall height is lower than those of earlier castles, making it difficult and hard to target by cannon fire.
The Grajal de Campos Castle has a square plan with four corner towers covering all blind spots and it is located on the western edge of the village over a small hill. In this same village there is a renaissance palace owned by the same counts which is said to be linked by an underground tunnel with the castle.
To this day, the castle belongs to the actual Duke of Alburquerque, its interior is dismantled and can be visited.
References:The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.