![]() ![]() And in the 16th century, the castle was nearly destroyed during the War of Independence. In the 16th century the fortress was used as a prison for noble criminals. It is said to have been built in the early 13th century and was used by several noble houses, including the House of Alba. But why is it so important? The castle played a big part of medieval history in the Madrid province. This precious piece of Spanish history currently sits on the Hispania Nostra Red List of Endangered Heritage. Due to several strange deaths and a legend which suggests that two brothers were buried within the walls of the castle, it now has a reputation of being haunted. Nowadays, the castle is a popular location for those who like ghost stories. The Fortress was built in the 15th century by the noble Luna family and was eventually the home of Isabel I of Castile around the time when she was proclaimed the true heir of Castile. And right in the middle of the town, you will also find the Coracera Castle ( typically knowns as the Castle of San Martin de Valdeiglesias). In the southwestern region of the province of Madrid you will find the little town of San Martín de Valdeiglesias. The castle is essentially abandoned, and right now any entry to the premises is forbidden, but since the property came under the ownership of the Municipality of Madrid, it is possible that something will done to make it more accessible in the near future! Castillo de San Martín de Valdeiglesias The style of the castle is a unique mix of Mudéjar ( moorish) and Gothic designs – tall, solid square towers combined with the typical pentagonal shaped often used by the ancient Arabs. Within these walls lies the ruins of the Buitrago de Lozoya castle. The town of Buitrago del Lozoya is completely surrounded by an ancient wall originally built by the Moorish people. There is a mini gallery inside the castle, but most importantly, visitors can climb to the rooftop to get 360º view of Villarejo de Salvanés. Not much is known about this castle, only that it was build somewhere between the 10th-11th century and that it most likely acted as a defensive post along the road to Toledo. The structure has 8 towers, which is abnormal considering the typical Spanish style only include 4 towers. This unusual looking tower is all that remains of the original fortress, which was either built by the Moors, or the Catholics. The castle also functions as an event venue for many cultural, political and historical organizations. The castle now runs as a museum, where visitors can explore the halls, galleries and courtyards. It was designed in a Castilian military style, and remains one of the last castles in the whole country to represent this type of architecture. The Castillo nuevo de Manzanares el Real was built in the 15th century and was home to the prominent House of Mendoza, a powerful family of Spanish lords. We put this one at the top of the list for a very simple reason – it is considered the best preserved castle in all of Madrid. If you like these day trip ideas, make sure to take a look at our various travel guides and bucket lists for other amazing Spanish cities! Manzanares El Real If you’re interested in taking a road trip to visit some of Madrid’s castles, take a look at our list below for some inspiration. The province of Madrid alone is home to over 30 castles, fortresses and towers, all which once housed great families and protected many cities. The fingerprints of these stages in the countries history can been seen everywhere you look. The country has been home to several empires, kingdoms and conquests. Many of these houses are of many different countries such as House of Butler which has held power and lands in countries such as France, Ireland, Germany and the UK.Spain has some of the richest medieval history in all of Europe. A royal house is a type of noble house, and they are not separate or mutually exclusive entities. Many noble houses (such as the Houses of York and Lancaster) have birthed dynasties and have historically been considered royal houses, but in a contemporary sense, these houses may lose this status when the dynasty ends and their familial relationship with the position of power is superseded. ![]() When a reigning monarch is a member of a noble house, such as the House of Windsor, that house can also be considered a royal house. The concept is comparable with that of an aristocratic clan, and can be used informally to describe non-European ruling families. A noble house is an aristocratic family or kinship group, either currently or historically of national or international significance, and usually associated with one or more hereditary titles, the most senior of which will be held by the "Head of the House" or patriarch. ![]()
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