Soutomaior Castle

Soutomaior, Spain

Built in the 12th century by Pedro Álvarez de Soutomaior it is one of the most important castles in Southern Galicia. Its origins can be traced back to the reign of Alfonso VII, when a military construction was built in a strategic location in the town of Soutomaior. On a hill at 119 metres above sea level at the bottom of the Ría de Vigo, the castle was near the coast but protected against the sea incursions of the Normans, the Turkish or pirates. It also controlled the communications from north to south, and dominated the valley of the Verdugo River, from its confluence with the Oitavén River to its mouth.

In the 15th century, the defensive tower was turned into a two-walled complex. At that time, the castle was closely linked to Pedro Álvarez de Sotomayor, popularly known as Pedro Madruga, who held the title of Count of Camiña, Viscount of Tui, and Mariscal of Baiona. There seems to be evidence that Cristopher Columbus and Pedro Madruga were the same person, since they had friends and rivals in common, and about one hundred places discovered in the New World were renamed with place names from As Rías Baixas.

Over history, Soutomaior was the centre of feudal power, the setting of many battles, and the summer residence of the noble families. Today, it is a historic site open to the public with a garden recognised as an International Garden of Excellence. The current magnificence of the building has been the result of several renovations and alterations.

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

howard mcfarland (6 months ago)
Absolutely beautiful small castle with stunning grounds and a terrific interpretive program -- self-guided - in many languages. Great experience.
Florin Baban (8 months ago)
Fantastic hidden gem. It is well preserved, and even the kids enjoyed walking the grounds and the tour inside the castle. €5 for a family of four to visit this fantastic piece of history is a bargain. It's definitely worth the visit
Jean-Pierre Ramalho (8 months ago)
A Wonderful Experience at Castello Souto Maior The gardens at Castello Souto Maior are absolutely beautiful, filled with a variety of ancient trees that create a peaceful, timeless atmosphere. We took the auto-guided tour, which was excellent—clear explanations and engaging videos brought the castle's rich history to life. A perfect blend of nature and history, making it a must-visit!
Joel CoKa (9 months ago)
Beautiful castle and gardens. The gardens are totally free and worth the visit just for them. The price to visit the castle is pretty cheap and more so with a student or family card.
Margot Simonds (9 months ago)
Lovely castle to visit, very nicely done inside with good videos and information. You do need to be able to go up and down stairs. The gardens and surrounding area walks are also very nice
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.

Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.