Castle of Torrelobatón facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle of Torrelobatón |
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| Castillo de Torrelobatón | |
 Torrelobatón, Province of Valladolid, Castile and León, in Spain |
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Castle of Torrelobatón
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| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Municipality of Torrelobatón |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century |
| Materials | Rocks |
The Torrelobatón Castle is a strong old building in the province of Valladolid in Spain. It was built to show the power of the important Enríquez family. Their main city was Medina de Rioseco.
This castle is one of the most important and best-kept fortresses in Valladolid. It even appeared in the famous movie El Cid starring Charlton Heston. In the film, the castle pretended to be Vivar, the hometown of the hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, also known as El Cid.
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History of Torrelobatón Castle
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Building the castle started in 1406. A powerful man named Don Alfonso Enríquez got permission to build a fortress in Torrelobatón. Before this, there was only a small stone wall around the village.
The castle played a part in an important event called the Revolt of the Comuneros. This was a rebellion against King Charles I of Spain (who was also Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire).
How the Castle Was Built
Torrelobatón Castle is located just outside the village, on flat ground. Many castles from the 1400s were built this way. It has a square shape. There are round towers at three of its corners. The main tower, called the keep, is built into the fourth corner. This keep also protects the castle's main gate.
The castle used to have an outer wall and a ditch around it. Some parts of these are still there today. The castle is built like many other strongholds of its time. They often had a square shape with the main tower in one corner.
The most special parts of Torrelobatón Castle are the small towers on top of the main keep. Also, its flat top wall is quite unique.
You enter the castle courtyard through a gate with a rounded arch. This gate was protected by a heavy metal gate called a portcullis, which could be lowered quickly.
The castle is made from strong limestone blocks. The main tower, or keep, is very tall and impressive. Besides being used for defense, the keep also showed how powerful the castle owners were. It helped to keep the local people from rebelling, especially since it was built on the side of the castle closest to the village. The keep is the most interesting part of the castle. It has eight small towers on its upper part. These towers are supported by special brackets, with one at each corner and one in the middle of each wall.
Torrelobatón Castle in El Cid
The castle was used in the famous historical movie El Cid. In the film, it was shown as Vivar, the hometown of the legendary Spanish hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de los Comuneros de Torrelobatón para niños
