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Castle of las Guadalerzas

Los Yébenes, Montes de Toledo, Toledo

1 Villages · 2 Monuments · 1 Nature · 1 Activities · 1 Curiosities · 3 Historical milestones · 1 Food and drink

Spain › Castilla-La Mancha › Toledo › Montes de Toledo › Los Yébenes › Castle of las Guadalerzas

Castle of las Guadalerzas

Monument · Los Yébenes, Montes de Toledo, Toledo

The castle of las Guadalerzas is a fortification built by the Arabs at a strategic point to defend the trade route to Córdoba, in the gorge of the Guadalerzas valley, eighteen kilometres from Los Yébenes. After the capture of Toledo by Alfonso VI, it became a contested frontier stronghold between Christians and Muslims, until in the 12th century it passed to the Order of Calatrava, which founded the hospital of Godalferga there; recovered for Castile after the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, it went on housing troops heading south. The precinct, now deteriorated, had a rectangular wall with a tower at each corner and a central parade ground. In the 16th century Philip II sold it to Cardinal Silíceo, who established there the College of Noble Maidens of Toledo.

Photo: Sonseca A.S.I (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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