Kingdom of León

CASTLES OF THE KINGDOM OF LEÓN

Note: Some images can be enlarged, clicking over them.

Aldea del Obispo.
"Real Fuerte de la Concepción".
Built by the Duke of Osuna in the XVII century, and rebuilt in the XVIII century. It was partially destroyed by the Duke of Wellington at 1810.
Alija del Infantado.
Royal castle of XV century, now it is being restored. The castle has been built around the XIII century palace of the Ponces.
Asmenal (Zamora).
Ruins of a castle from XIV-XV centuries, near the town of Moraleja de Sayago.
Béjar.
"Castillo-Palacio de los Duques" (Castle-Palace of the Dukes).
XVI century. Béjar is located in the province of Salamanca (part of the kingdom of León), but the city was part of the kingdom of Castile during medieval times.
Benavente.
"Castillo de la Mota".
Built originally in the 12th century, it was rebuilt at XIV century by the Count Juan Alonso de Pimentel, and it was modificated several times after. The most part of it was destroyed by French troops during the War of Independence (1808-1812). Nowadays, only survives the tower known as "Torre del Caracol", that is united to a National Parador of Turism.
Castrotorafe
Ruins of an ancient fortified city and its castle, abandoned in the XVIII century. Repopulated in 1176 by por Fernando I, the city belonged to the Order of Santiago, but it seems the castle was under royal control. It was sieged in 1475 by Alfonso V of Portugal. It is placed at the "Ruta de la Plata" (Silver Route, the ancient way built by Romans to export the silver of the Leonese mines).
Ciudad Rodrigo
"Castillo o Alcázar de Enrique II de Trastámara".
Usually supposed to have been built by the king Enrique II de Trastámara (1369-1379), he really rebuilt a previous castle. It also presents later modifications.
Corullón.
15th century.
Grajal de Campos.
Built in XVI century by Hernando de Vega and his son, Juan de Vega y Acuña (count of Grajal) over a previous castle, of the X century.
Miranda del Castañar .
Built between XIV and XV centuries, by the Count Don Pedro Estunyga, probably over a previous castle.
Note: Miranda del Castañar has the most ancient bullfighting arena of Spain (i.e. of the world).
Monleón.
Built over a promontory, at one corner of the ancient Town Wall (nowadays almost dessapeared. It was built at XV century, over a previous castle (probably of XIV century). Nowadays only the Tower (complet and restored) and part of the walls that surrounded it survive. It was besieged by Portuguese troops in 1475.
Montemayor del Río.
XIV-XV centuries, probably built by the prince D. Pedro, or his son D. Sancho. Royal propierty until 1458, when it was donated by prince Enrique (future Enrique IV) to Juan de Silva.
Ponferrada.
"Castillo de los Templarios" (Castle of Templars).
Built by Templar Knights, who were in Ponferrada until 1312. Reformed afterwards (specially in XV century), it is a highly complex military construction dating from several centuries.

Quintana del Marco.

"Castillo de los Quiñones"
Built in XV century by the Quiñones family (count of Luna). It is still used as residence.
Puebla de Sanabria.
Built at XV century by the fourth Count of Benavente, don Rodrigo Alonso Pimentel. Nowadays, it is almost all repaired, and it lodges the Library and the House of Culture of the Town.
San Felices de los Gallegos.
XIII century castle, built by the king Dionis of Portugal de Portugal (who had conquered the Town in 1296). The tower was built in XV century by the first Duke of Alba, D. Garci Alvarez de Toledo, who had acquired the castle in 1476. It also has an aditional wall, built in XVII century.
San Martín del Castañar .
Ruins of a castle of XV century, related with the castle of Miranda del Castañar: it was built by the Count of Miranda as residence for his daugther and his son-in-law, a nobleman of San Martín (after this date, the Town is known as San Martín "del Castañar").
Toral de los Guzmanes.
"Castillo-Palacio de los Guzmanes"
Castle built with adobe bricks, during XIV century and by Juan Ramírez de Guzmán, governor of León and Lord of the town, it has been recently rebuilt. Today, it lodges a curious museum, with more than 2500 Spanish earthen jars (botijos).
Toro.
"El Alcázar"
Built in XV century. It lodged the Court of the Princess of Asturias Juana de Trastámara, during her war against the Catholic Kings. The victory of Ferdinand the Catholic in 1476 marked the end of the war.
Turienzo de los Caballeros.
"Torre de los Osorio"
Remaining of an ancient castle, which belonged to Templar Knights. It belonged later to the manor of San Pedro de Montes, and the family Osorio, whose descendants are still owners of the tower. This tower (in perfect state) is the only remaining of the castle.
Valencia de don Juan.
"Castillo de Coyanza".
Built by the counts of Valencia at XV century, over a previous castle.
Note: Valencia de Don Juan belonged to Castile until 1199, the year in which it was acquired by Leon by the marriage of Queen Berengaria (to King Alfonso IX), and until the definitive union of Castile and Leon, in 1230.
Note 2: "Coyanza" is the ancient name of Valencia de don Juan.
Villafranca del Bierzo
"Castillo de los marqueses de Villafranca"
Built in XV-XVI centuries by María Osorio Bazán & Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, marquis of Villafranca, it is the most modern and best-preserved castle in the County of El Bierzo. During the Peninsular war, it was burnt by French troops. It was rebuilt later, and nowadays, its owners still live there.
Villalonso.
15th century castle, probably built by Juan de Ulloa & his wife, María de Sarmiento.
Villanueva de Jamuz.

Ruins of a caslte built in XV century by Quiñones family.
Zamora.
Built between XI and XVII centuries, it was first part of the deffensive system of the kingdom against Moslems. Later, it served as defense against both Portugal and Castile. At this site, king Sancho II of Castile was murdered by Vellido Dolfos (1072).

SPANISH CASTLE VOCABULARY

Main page

	Aldea del Obispo. "Real Fuerte de la Concepción". Built by the Duke of Osuna in the XVII century, and rebuilt in the XVIII century. It was partially destroyed by the Duke of Wellington at 1810.
	Alija del Infantado. Royal castle of XV century, now it is being restored. The castle has been built around the XIII century palace of the Ponces.
	Asmenal (Zamora). Ruins of a castle from XIV-XV centuries, near the town of Moraleja de Sayago.
	Béjar. "Castillo-Palacio de los Duques" (Castle-Palace of the Dukes). XVI century. Béjar is located in the province of Salamanca (part of the kingdom of León), but the city was part of the kingdom of Castile during medieval times.
	Benavente. "Castillo de la Mota". Built originally in the 12th century, it was rebuilt at XIV century by the Count Juan Alonso de Pimentel, and it was modificated several times after. The most part of it was destroyed by French troops during the War of Independence (1808-1812). Nowadays, only survives the tower known as "Torre del Caracol", that is united to a National Parador of Turism.
	Castrotorafe Ruins of an ancient fortified city and its castle, abandoned in the XVIII century. Repopulated in 1176 by por Fernando I, the city belonged to the Order of Santiago, but it seems the castle was under royal control. It was sieged in 1475 by Alfonso V of Portugal. It is placed at the "Ruta de la Plata" (Silver Route, the ancient way built by Romans to export the silver of the Leonese mines).
	Ciudad Rodrigo "Castillo o Alcázar de Enrique II de Trastámara". Usually supposed to have been built by the king Enrique II de Trastámara (1369-1379), he really rebuilt a previous castle. It also presents later modifications.
	Corullón. 15th century.
	Grajal de Campos. Built in XVI century by Hernando de Vega and his son, Juan de Vega y Acuña (count of Grajal) over a previous castle, of the X century.
	Miranda del Castañar . Built between XIV and XV centuries, by the Count Don Pedro Estunyga, probably over a previous castle. Note: Miranda del Castañar has the most ancient bullfighting arena of Spain (i.e. of the world).
	Monleón. Built over a promontory, at one corner of the ancient Town Wall (nowadays almost dessapeared. It was built at XV century, over a previous castle (probably of XIV century). Nowadays only the Tower (complet and restored) and part of the walls that surrounded it survive. It was besieged by Portuguese troops in 1475.
	Montemayor del Río. XIV-XV centuries, probably built by the prince D. Pedro, or his son D. Sancho. Royal propierty until 1458, when it was donated by prince Enrique (future Enrique IV) to Juan de Silva.
	Ponferrada. "Castillo de los Templarios" (Castle of Templars). Built by Templar Knights, who were in Ponferrada until 1312. Reformed afterwards (specially in XV century), it is a highly complex military construction dating from several centuries.

	Quintana del Marco. "Castillo de los Quiñones" Built in XV century by the Quiñones family (count of Luna). It is still used as residence.
	Puebla de Sanabria. Built at XV century by the fourth Count of Benavente, don Rodrigo Alonso Pimentel. Nowadays, it is almost all repaired, and it lodges the Library and the House of Culture of the Town.
	San Felices de los Gallegos. XIII century castle, built by the king Dionis of Portugal de Portugal (who had conquered the Town in 1296). The tower was built in XV century by the first Duke of Alba, D. Garci Alvarez de Toledo, who had acquired the castle in 1476. It also has an aditional wall, built in XVII century.
	San Martín del Castañar . Ruins of a castle of XV century, related with the castle of Miranda del Castañar: it was built by the Count of Miranda as residence for his daugther and his son-in-law, a nobleman of San Martín (after this date, the Town is known as San Martín "del Castañar").
	Toral de los Guzmanes. "Castillo-Palacio de los Guzmanes" Castle built with adobe bricks, during XIV century and by Juan Ramírez de Guzmán, governor of León and Lord of the town, it has been recently rebuilt. Today, it lodges a curious museum, with more than 2500 Spanish earthen jars (botijos).
	Toro. "El Alcázar" Built in XV century. It lodged the Court of the Princess of Asturias Juana de Trastámara, during her war against the Catholic Kings. The victory of Ferdinand the Catholic in 1476 marked the end of the war.
	Turienzo de los Caballeros. "Torre de los Osorio" Remaining of an ancient castle, which belonged to Templar Knights. It belonged later to the manor of San Pedro de Montes, and the family Osorio, whose descendants are still owners of the tower. This tower (in perfect state) is the only remaining of the castle.
	Valencia de don Juan. "Castillo de Coyanza". Built by the counts of Valencia at XV century, over a previous castle. Note: Valencia de Don Juan belonged to Castile until 1199, the year in which it was acquired by Leon by the marriage of Queen Berengaria (to King Alfonso IX), and until the definitive union of Castile and Leon, in 1230. Note 2: "Coyanza" is the ancient name of Valencia de don Juan.
	Villafranca del Bierzo "Castillo de los marqueses de Villafranca" Built in XV-XVI centuries by María Osorio Bazán & Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, marquis of Villafranca, it is the most modern and best-preserved castle in the County of El Bierzo. During the Peninsular war, it was burnt by French troops. It was rebuilt later, and nowadays, its owners still live there.
	Villalonso. 15th century castle, probably built by Juan de Ulloa & his wife, María de Sarmiento.
	Villanueva de Jamuz. Ruins of a caslte built in XV century by Quiñones family.
	Zamora. Built between XI and XVII centuries, it was first part of the deffensive system of the kingdom against Moslems. Later, it served as defense against both Portugal and Castile. At this site, king Sancho II of Castile was murdered by Vellido Dolfos (1072).