Castle of Matrera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle of Matrera |
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| Native name Spanish: Castillo de Matrera |
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The renovated Castle of Matrera
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| Location | Villamartín, Spain |
| Built | 9th century |
| Official name: Castillo de Matrera | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1985 |
| Reference no. | (R.I.) – 51 – 0008200 – 00000 |
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The Castle of Matrera (known as Castillo de Matrera or Torre Matrera in Spanish) is a medieval castle located in Villamartín, Spain. It's near Prado del Rey. This historic castle was built in the 9th century. It was officially recognized as a national monument in 1949. Later, in 1985, it became an example of Bien de Interés Cultural (which means "Heritage of Cultural Interest"). The castle went through a big repair project in 2015 that caused a lot of discussion.
Contents
A Look Back: Castle History
This castle was first built in the 9th century. A leader named Omar ibn Hafsún had it constructed. Its main job was to protect a city called Iptuci. This city was an important outpost for the Cora de Ronda region. Even before the castle, the area around Mount Pajarete had been settled by people for a very long time.
Who Owned the Castle?
In the 13th century, King Ferdinand III took control of the castle. He then had it rebuilt. But at the start of the 14th century, it fell back into Muslim hands.
The castle was finally taken back by Alfonso XI in 1341. However, because it was right on the border with Moorish lands, it was attacked again. Muslims from Granada tried to capture it in 1408 and again in 1445.
The Castle's Big Renovation
By 2010, not much of the castle was left standing. Only a few walls remained. Heavy rains in 2013 caused even more damage to the ruins. Because of this, a project to restore the castle began in 2010.
How the Renovation Happened
The architect in charge of the project was Carlos Quevado. The work was finished in 2015. Parts of the main tower were rebuilt using a special lime plaster. This plaster was similar to old samples found at the site. Large, smooth blocks were used to show the original shape of the castle.
Quevado explained that his goal was to do two things. First, he wanted to protect the old ruins. Second, he aimed to "recover the volume, texture, and tonality" that the tower originally had. He also wanted to make sure that the new parts looked different from the original old structure.
Reactions to the New Look
The renovation got mixed reactions. Some local people didn't like it at all. Spain's cultural heritage group, Hispania nostra, even called the project "absolutely terrible."
However, many people in the architecture world praised the work. The project was nominated for a big award, the 2016 Architizer A+ Award. It won the public choice vote in the Architecture Preservation category. The Guardian newspaper said the design was "neo-brutalist." They also praised it for bringing back the strong look its original Moorish builders intended.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Matrera para niños
