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Castle of Gauzón

Castrillón, Avilés, Asturias

1 Villages · 2 Monuments · 3 Nature · 1 Curiosities

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Castle of Gauzón

Monument · Castrillón, Avilés, Asturias

Gauzón Castle, considered the most emblematic fortress of the kings of Asturias, stands on the Peñón de Raíces, in Castrillón, from where it dominated the ria of Avilés and the coast. On the rocky outcrop a fortress guarding the entrance to the ria had stood since at least the 7th century; in its goldsmith's workshop the Cross of Victory was crafted in 908, today a symbol of Asturias and the major piece in the Holy Chamber. Much of its stone was taken over time by local residents to build houses, which is why reconstruction work is under way today; the first excavations took place in 1972-77, and since 2007 an archaeological project has continued, finding in 2013 a Visigothic coin minted by King Reccared I, today displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Asturias.

Photo: LMLM (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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