Burgalimar Castle facts for kids
Burgalimar Castle (Spanish: Castillo de Burgalimar) is a very old castle in the town of Baños de la Encina, in Jaén Province, Spain. It was built a long time ago, in the 10th century, when a powerful Muslim empire called the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the area.
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History of the Castle
A special marble plaque found at the castle's entrance tells us when it was built. It says the castle was finished in 967 AD. This was during the time of the ruler Al-Hakam II, who is also named on the plaque. This important marble plaque is now kept in a big museum in Madrid, called the National Archaeological Museum.
The castle was built to be a military base. Its job was to protect the valley of the Guadalquivir River. It also guarded the important roads leading to and from the capital city of Córdoba.
Changing Hands in the Reconquista
For about 100 years, in the 12th and 13th centuries, the castle was often fought over. This time was part of a long period known as the Reconquista. During the Reconquista, Christian kingdoms in Spain worked to take back land from Muslim rulers.
- King Alfonso VII captured the castle in 1147. But it went back to Muslim control after he died in 1157.
- Later, King Alfonso VIII and King Alfonso IX captured it together in 1189 for a short time.
- The Kingdom of Castile took it in 1212, just before a very important battle called Las Navas de Tolosa. However, it returned to the Almohad rulers just three days after that battle.
- Finally, the Kingdom of Castile took control of the castle for good in 1225. This happened when they conquered the whole area around it.
The Castilians later added a new main tower in 1466. They called it the Torre del Homenaje, which means "Tower of Homage." In 1931, the castle was named a National Monument of Spain. This means it is a specially protected historical site.
What the Castle Looks Like
Burgalimar Castle is a large area surrounded by walls. It has a long, uneven shape, about 100 meters (328 feet) long and 50 meters (164 feet) wide.
Castle Towers and Gates
There are fifteen towers placed close together around the castle walls. Most of these towers have a square or rectangle shape at their base. This was a common style for fortresses built by the caliphs in the 10th century. The only tower that is different is the one furthest north, which is the 15th-century Torre del Homenaje. This tower is bigger and has a rounder shape.
The castle has two entrance gates: one in the north and one in the south. The southern gate was more important. It has a straight path to enter, unlike later castles that had tricky bent entrances for defense. This gate also features arches shaped like a horseshoe. Above the entrance path, there were rooms with openings in the floor. From these openings, defenders could drop things down onto attackers below.
Inside the castle today, you can still see the remains of an old cistern (a tank for holding water). You can also see the foundations of other buildings that were built there later.
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Exterior view of the walls
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The southern gate of the castle
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The Torre del Homenaje
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The castle's interior, with remains of some later structures
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See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Burgalimar para niños
