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Castle of Soto

Aller, Caudal, Asturias

1 Villages · 4 Monuments · 9 Nature · 3 Activities · 5 Curiosities · 1 Food and drink

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Castle of Soto

Monument · Aller, Caudal, Asturias

Soto castle, in the village of Soto de Aller, in the middle valley of the Aller river, originates in the 12th century, although the surviving remains date mainly from the 14th, when it was rebuilt to meet the defensive and residential needs of the local nobility. It was the residence of the García de Soto family, and its structure, with cylindrical towers and sturdy walls, reflects the late Gothic style of medieval fortifications. It combined defensive and domestic uses, and during the Peninsular War it served as a refuge for guerrilla fighters; from the 19th century onward it fell into disuse and was left in ruins, until its restoration in 2022. Urraca la Asturiana, the illegitimate daughter of Alfonso VII, spent time there. Declared a Monumento histórico-artístico (heritage protection category) in 1975, it is the concejo's foremost example of military architecture.

Photo: Alvaro Barca (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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