Zahara de la Sierra Castle

Zahara de la Sierra, Spain

Zahara de la Sierra Castle is actually a six-hectare area on the rocky hill, known as the Villa Arabe or Villa Medieval; its crowning glory is the Homage Tower. The town was originally a Moorish outpost, overlooking the valley. Due to its position between Ronda and Seville, it was a perfect site for a castle to be built to serve as a fortress in case of attack.

The path starts at the car park on the roof of Hotel de la Villa and is wide with a handrail in good condition.  It is a steep climb through the cacti and pines with wild flowers, prickly pear and almond trees. Initially you pass by foundations of unmarked buildings clinging on the more level slopes.  The first historic building looks like the homage tower but is the Iglesia Major and you still have a long way to climb. Be careful here as the birds nest in the walls and make a mess on the path or persons below. The supporting buttresses are modern but the walls are original.

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

José Francisco Pereira da Silva de Pádua (4 years ago)
Wonderful view. Its worth to climb Possible see all Zahara de la Sierra and villages near
Lukasz Taborski (4 years ago)
Staying in the town itself is nothing. Start your climb up to the remains of the 13th-century Moorish castle and you will experience the magic of this place. Amazing views of the Zahara el Gastor reservoir and its turquoise waters. All these valleys and mountains around and the town below. The wind gently chills on a hot day and the silence all around. Fantastic place!
Patrick O Connor (4 years ago)
Excellent views but need to be relatively fit..in hot weather..
Traveler (4 years ago)
Lovely views from the top of the small castle-tower. I strongly recommend going hiking to take cool shots:)
Emma Glaisher (5 years ago)
Lovely town. We arrived by bike just in time for an evening procession - music, drums and incense. Unforgettable.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.