Estepa Castle, Estepa, Spain

Estepa castle was known in the Islamic period as Hisn Istabba, and was taken by Spanish king Fernando III on 15 August 1241.

The city walls that still surround the old town on the San Cristóbal hill were first built in the tenth century by the Moors, renovated by Almohad invaders in the twelfth, and again reconstructed when Estepa fell to the Christian Order of Santiago in the thirteenth century. The keep inside the walls was built against attacks from Granada in the fourteenth century, and at 26 metres offers sweeping views of the town and surrounding countryside.

A defensive tower built by Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, Master of Santiago, it carried out defensive and logistical functions, measuring 26 metres high by 13 metres wide. On clear days, you can see Sierra Nevada from the roof.

References:

andalucia.com

User Reviews

francisco estevez (3 months ago)
Very expensive to see simple ruins; If they included a visit to the convent or the church, it would still be worth it...the very friendly guides and the spectacular views, yes.

Tomás Rincón García (9 months ago)
Although the keep stands out, good work has been done to recover this fortress and enhance its value. Its walls closely monitor the passage of time in this Sevillian town.

Maica Sánchez Martínez (2 years ago)
Despite how little is left standing. The guide has offered us a magnificent visit, with great explanations and has taken us from the Tartessian settlement period to the present day. We have learned a lot about the magnificent history of Estepa, seeing archaeological remains, walls, the keep, and the impressive views of a green countryside, dotted by numerous Sevillian and Cordoban towns. Also in the distance you could see the provinces of Málaga and Granada, looming, Sierra Nevada in the distance.

José A Díaz (2 years ago)
Located on the San Cristóbal hill next to the main church, to enjoy a quiet place and beautiful views.

Isabel M Dorado Fernández (2 years ago)
What an incredible place!! It surprised me a lot. It is a magical place. They explained the history of the Alcazaba and Estepa to us in a theater in the Alcazaba. Very entertaining. The origin of the mantecados, and the accent of its people... its wealth... its battles all narrated by a character... Aguilar y Cano...

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright mixteri

Historic Site of the week

Bengtskär Lighthouse

Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.

German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.

After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.

Estepa Castle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Bengtskär Lighthouse