Cártama Castle, Cártama, Spain

The Cartama Castle is located in the Monte de la Virgen (Mount of the Virgin), where the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is also located and where it is possible to be enjoyed some impressive panoramic views. Cártama Castle was built by the Moors in the early Middle Ages. During the Mozarabic revolt of Omar ibn Hafsun, between 881 and 914 AD, Cártama stayed loyal to the Caliphate of Córdoba and the castle was strengthened.

Because of the advancing Christian troops Cártama Castle was again strengthened during the 14th century. By that time the castle would probably have had a double curtain wall and several towers. In 1485 however, the castle was taken by Christians troops. Because the castle was important for their siege against the city of Málaga the Catholic Monarchs invested large sums of money in maintaining the castle between 1485 and 1487. From 1491 on the castle lost its strategic importance and the castle was used as a quarry by the locals.

What you can see today are the scarce remains of a rectangular alcazaba with its surrounding walls and a cistern.

References:

castles.nl

User Reviews

Jesper Koefoed (6 months ago)
Beatiful views, but not much left of the castle. Would have been nice if there was an information sign on the background history etc

Anders Ekendahl (2 years ago)
Walk up the path to the hermitage and then follow a small dirt path to the castle. It isn't well signed, but you should find it

Ната Таша (2 years ago)
Nice place on top of the hill. Small Village. Kids like most the play ground near lidl...

Lajos (3 years ago)
Nice place ?

Marius D. (6 years ago)
Good hike up the hill, very good view. Clean spot, but else nothing much to see or do.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright discopalace

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Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

Cártama Castle

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