The castle of San Esteban de Gormaz is one of the key castles that changed ruler once and again during the 10th and 11th century when it finally came under Christian domain. During the reign of King García I, king of Leon, it was reinforced giving place to a repopulation of the town. From there, soldiers would control transit through the Douro River and they would guard the bridge that passed over this river. Nowadays, what is left of the castle is a large wall that is about two metres thick. The castle was built with ashlar stonework, possibly of Roman origin.
Near the access gate, there is a great opening in the ground known as Pozo Lairón, although is not certain what it was used for. The castle is narrow and elongated, and inside there are remains of water pools and underground constructions. Although it is quite deteriorated, it is of great importance due to its strategical location from which you can see the castle of Gormaz.
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.