Castle of Gormaz Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Castle of Gormaz
Native name Spanish: Castillo de Gormaz

Type	castle
Location	Gormaz, Spain
Built	965 (current form)
Restored	14th century
Architectural style(s)	Moorish architecture, Spanish architecture

The Castle of Gormaz (Spanish: Castillo de Gormaz) is a huge castle in Gormaz, Spain. Its current structure was built in 965. It was made to defend the borders of the Caliphate of Córdoba, a powerful Muslim empire. When it was built, it was the biggest fortress in Europe.

Where is the Castle of Gormaz?
A Look at the Castle's History
How the Castle Was Built
Images for kids
See also

Where is the Castle of Gormaz?

The Castle of Gormaz is in Gormaz, a town in the Soria province of Spain. It's about 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast of El Burgo de Osma. This area is part of the region called Castile-Leon.

The castle sits on a hill about 100 meters (328 feet) above the Duero river. It was built to control a bridge over the river. This area was very important because it had many watchtowers from the 8th century. These towers helped keep an eye on the land. Gormaz is one of the oldest military buildings still standing in Western Europe.

A Look at the Castle's History

The land around the castle was often fought over in the 10th century. This was between the Muslim-controlled area called Al-Andalus (in the south) and the smaller Christian kingdoms (in the north). A fort was already here before the current castle. Christian records show that Muslim forces took back the site in 925 and 940. This means it changed hands many times.

Building the Castle

The castle we see today was built or rebuilt in 965–66. It was built by Ghalib ibn Abd al-Rahman, a general for Caliph al-Hakam II. Early writings in Arabic mention this fortress and its rebuilding. A stone found nearby also mentions this date and the caliph's name. This stone likely came from the castle.

This fortress was the largest one built by the Caliphate of Cordoba in this area. It was a key part of a big network of forts that protected the northern border of Al-Andalus. Some historians say it was the biggest castle in Europe at that time.

Battles and Changes of Control

In 974–975, the castle survived a big attack. Christian forces from Navarre, Castile, and Leon tried to capture it. General Ghalib's army arrived in the summer of 975 and saved the castle.

The castle might have been captured by Christians between 975 and 983. Records say Muslims took it back in 983. There's also some evidence that the caliphs of Cordoba might have given the castle to Sancho III in 1009 or 1011. This was during a civil war in Al-Andalus called the Fitna of al-Andalus. But it's not clear if this actually happened.

Later, Fernando I captured the castle in 1059. This might have been a permanent capture, but some records suggest it was only for a short time. Archeological finds show that Muslims were still fixing the castle in the 1060s. However, by the end of the 11th century, the Duero region and the city of Toledo were definitely controlled by Castile.

After the Christian Conquest

After the Christians fully took over, different lords lived in the castle. Alfonso VI gave the castle to El Cid in 1087.

In the 14th century, the castle was very important during a war between Pedro I of Castile and Pedro IV of Aragon. It changed hands many times and was repaired a lot during this period. Archeologists found that a small town even existed inside the main part of the castle then. After these wars, the castle was left empty and fell into ruins.

Modern digs at the site started in 1922 and are still going on. Major studies were done in the late 20th century by Juan Zozaya.

How the Castle Was Built

The Castle of Gormaz is built from masonry stone. This means it uses cut or shaped stones. Builders probably reused stones from older buildings on the site. The castle's outer wall is about one kilometer (0.6 miles) long. It has an uneven shape that fits the hill it stands on. The castle is about 380 meters (1,247 feet) long and between 17 and 63 meters (56 to 207 feet) wide. The walls are about 10 meters (33 feet) high.

Walls and Towers

The walls are made stronger by 27 towers that stick out a little. The northern wall is built with large, rough stones. It's straighter and has 15 towers placed at regular distances. The southern wall is more curved. It was built with more advanced stone carving techniques, making it stronger for defense. However, over time, erosion and landslides have damaged the southern wall more. Even in medieval times, parts of this wall had to be repaired.

Castle Entrances

The castle had at least two entrances that are still here today. Some experts think there might have been more. The main entrance is on the southwest side, facing the river. This was the side that faced the Muslim lands.

A second, smaller gate, called a postern gate, is in the northern wall. You would enter it through a vaulted (arched) hallway.

The main gate

The main gate has two huge horseshoe archways, one behind the other. The space between these two arches was used by defenders. They could throw things down on attackers while staying safe. The outer arch is 2.76 meters (9 feet) wide and 7 meters (23 feet) tall.

The wall around the outer arch used to have plaster or stucco decoration. This was set inside an alfiz, which is a decorative rectangular frame around the arch. Only small pieces of this decoration remain. The area around the arch was probably painted to look like "false" voussoirs (wedge-shaped stones in an arch). The rectangular frame might have had Arabic writing or geometric designs. This type of decoration was common during the Caliphate of Cordoba period. You can see it in other buildings like the Great Mosque of Cordoba and Madinat al-Zahra.

The Citadel

The eastern end of the castle had a citadel. This was like a mini-fortress with its own taller and stronger walls. This citadel might have been built in 965 or added later, probably in the 14th century. You could get into it from the western part of the castle through a bent-entrance gate inside a tower.

The eastern citadel was likely a keep, a last line of defense. The larger western part of the castle was probably where people lived and where an army could stay. Both the citadel and the main part of the castle had a cistern (a tank for storing water). Archeologists also found a spot inside the castle covered with white mortar. Some think this might be the remains of a musalla, which is an open-air prayer area.