List of castles in Spain facts for kids

"Castles in Spain" redirects here. For other uses, see Castles in Spain (disambiguation).

The Alcázar of Segovia is an amazing medieval castle. It even inspired Disney when he designed Cinderella's castle!

The castles in Spain are famous for their long history. Many were built to protect the country, especially during the Middle Ages. Back then, Christian kingdoms in the north needed strong defenses against their Muslim neighbors in the south.

Kings often gave land and castles to loyal noblemen. These noblemen would then protect the borders. As the Reconquista (the time when Christian kingdoms took back land from Muslim rule) moved forward, some castles changed. They became homes for nobles instead of just military forts.

Even so, wars could still happen, so castles kept their military importance. In some areas, like the Basque Country, people built many smaller "tower houses" instead of huge castles.

In Muslim Spain, many castles were also beautiful palaces. Smaller kingdoms, called taifa kingdoms, built them after the Caliphate of Córdoba fell. These castles were not just for defense; they were also works of art.

Later, Christian kingdoms became richer and more powerful. They built grander castles, like the Alcázar of Segovia. This castle was a main home for the kings of Castile. The Castle of Olite was another luxurious castle. It was the royal court for the Kingdom of Navarre.

After the Conquest of Granada in 1492, the Catholic monarchs wanted all castles to belong to the Crown. This didn't fully happen at first. But a rebellion in the early 1500s, called the War of the Germanias, changed things. The new Spanish rulers, the Habsburgs, started tearing down many castles. They feared that nobles or peasants might use them to rebel.

Because of this, many castles in Spain are now in ruins. Some have been restored, but there are so many that it's hard to fix them all.

Famous Castles in Spain

Spain has many incredible castles. Here are some of the most well-known ones, grouped by region:

Andalucía

The Alcazaba of Almería is a large fortress.

The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos in Córdoba.

The Alhambra of Granada is a stunning palace and fortress.

The Alcazaba of Málaga.

The Alcázar of Seville is a beautiful royal palace.

The Alcazaba of Almería is a huge fortress in Almería.
The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos in Córdoba is known for its beautiful gardens.
The Alhambra in Granada is a famous palace and fortress. It's one of Spain's most visited places.
The Alcazaba of Málaga is a historic fortress in Málaga.
The Alcázar of Seville is a royal palace in Seville, famous for its stunning architecture.

Aragón

The impressive Castle of Loarre.

The Castle of Aljafería in Zaragoza.

The Castle of Loarre in Huesca is one of the oldest and best-preserved Romanesque castles in Spain.
The Castle of Monzón in Huesca was once a Templar stronghold.
The Castle of Peracense in Teruel is a strong castle built on a rocky hill.
The Castle of Aljafería in Zaragoza is a beautiful fortified palace.

Asturias

The Castle of Las Caldas.

The Castle of Salas is a historic castle in Asturias.
The Torreón of Llanes is a tall tower in Llanes.

Basque Country

The fairytale-like Castle of Butrón.

The Castle of Butrón in Biscay looks like something out of a fairytale.
The Castle of Charles V is a strong fortress in Hondarribia.

Balearic Islands

The unique circular Bellver Castle.

The Bellver Castle in Mallorca is special because it's one of the few circular castles in Europe.

Canary Islands

The Castle of la Luz in Las Palmas is one of the oldest forts in the Canary Islands.
The Castle of San Felipe (Puerto de la Cruz) protects the coast in Puerto de la Cruz.

Cantabria

The Castle of Argüeso.

The Castle of Argüeso is a well-preserved medieval castle in Cantabria.

Castile and León

The Templar Castle of Ponferrada.

The unique brick Castle of Coca.

The famous Alcázar of Segovia.

The Castle of the Counts of Benavente.

The Alcázar of Segovia is a famous castle that looks like a ship's bow. It's a popular tourist spot.
The Castle of Coca in Segovia is known for its unique brick construction.
The Templar Castle of Ponferrada in León was once home to the Knights Templar.
The Castle of Ampudia in Palencia is a well-preserved castle with a museum.
The Castle of the Counts of Benavente in Zamora is a large and impressive fortress.

Castile-La Mancha

The Castle of Almansa on its rocky perch.

The Castle of Belmonte.

The Castle of the Cid in Jadraque.

The Alcázar of Toledo.

The Castle of Almansa in Albacete sits on a rocky hill, looking very dramatic.
The Castle-Convent of Calatrava la Nueva in Ciudad Real was a powerful military order's headquarters.
The Castle of Belmonte in Cuenca is a beautiful castle with a unique triangular shape.
The Castle of Jadraque in Guadalajara is often called the "Castle of the Cid."
The Alcázar of Toledo is a large stone fortress in Toledo, with a long history.

Catalonia

The Castle of Cardona.

The Vila Vella enceinte in Tossa de Mar.

The Castle of Gardeny.

The Castle of Cardona in Barcelona is one of the most important medieval castles in Catalonia.
The Castle of Montjuic in Barcelona offers great views of the city.
The Castle of Miravet in Tarragona is a large Templar castle by the river.
The Vila Vella enceinte in Tossa de Mar, Girona, is a walled medieval town by the sea.
The Castle of Gardeny in Lleida was another important Templar site.

Extremadura

The Castle of Trujillo.

The Castle of Alburquerque.

The Castle of Trujillo in Cáceres is a well-preserved castle with a long history.
The Castle Palace of the Counts of Oropesa in Cáceres is a grand palace-castle.
The Alcazaba of Badajoz is a large Moorish fortress in Badajoz.
The Castle of Alburquerque in Badajoz is a strong castle on a hill.

Galicia

The Castle of Vimianzo.

The Castle of Pambre.

The Castle of Monterreal in Baiona.

The Castle of Vimianzo in A Coruña is a well-known medieval fortress.
The Castle do Castrodouro in Lugo has a tall keep.
The Castle of Pambre in Lugo is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Galicia.
The Castle of Monterrei in Ourense is a large complex with a castle and palace.
The Castle of Monterreal in Pontevedra is a historic fortress by the sea.

Community of Madrid

The New Castle of Manzanares el Real.

The New Castle of Manzanares el Real is a beautiful and well-preserved castle near Madrid.
The Castle of Buitrago del Lozoya is a unique castle with walls surrounding the town.

Region of Murcia

Lorca Castle, a large fortress.

The Castle of Lorca is a very large and important fortress in Murcia.
The Castle of Monteagudo is a historic castle on a hill with a large statue.

Navarre

The Castle of Xabier.

The Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite is a stunning gothic palace-castle.
The Castle of Xabier is a famous castle and birthplace of Saint Francis Xavier.

La Rioja

The Castle of Davalillo.

The Castle of Davalillo is a ruined castle with great views.
The Castle of Quel is a striking castle built on a rock.

Valencian Community

The Castle of Santa Bàrbara overlooking Alicante.

The Castle of Morella.

Xativa Castle.

The Castle of Villena in Alicante is a strong fortress.
The Castle of Santa Bàrbara in Alicante is a large castle on a mountain overlooking the city.
The Castle of Peniscola in Castellón is a famous castle by the sea.
The Castle of Morella in Castellón is a large and historic fortress.
The Castle of Xàtiva in Valencia is a huge castle with a long history.

Images for kids

Dating back to the early 12th century, the Alcázar of Segovia is one of the most distinctive medieval castles in Europe. Disney was inspired by this site in building Cinderella's castle.
Battery of Guardias Viejas
Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera
Castle of Aznalmara
Castle of Santa Catalina (Cádiz)
Castle of Sancti Petri
Castle of San Marcos
Castle of Santiago
Castle of Doña Blanca
Castle of La Calahorra
Castle of la Yedra
Castle of Santa Catalina
Castle of Mata Bejid
Gibralfaro Castle, Málaga.
Alcazaba of Antequera
Torre del Oro
Citadel of Jaca
Castle of Peracense
Castle of Las Caldas
Castle of Tudela
Torreón of Llanes
Castle of Empress Eugénie de Montijo
Castle of Bellver
Castle of Cabrera
Castle of Argüeso
Castle of Don Álvaro de Luna
Castle of Burgos
Castle of Olmillos de Sasamón
Castle of Valencia de Don Juan
Castle of Ampudia
Real Fuerte de la Concepción
Castle of Cuéllar
Castle of Almenar
Castle of Montuenga
Castle of Ucero
Castle of Castrotorafe
Castle of Zamora
Castle of Chinchilla de Montearagón
Castle of Calatrava la Vieja
Castle-Convent of Calatrava la Nueva
Castle of Peñarroya
Castle of Alarcón
Castle of Garcimuñoz
Castle of Anguix
Castle of Atienza
Alcázar Real of Guadalajara
Castle of Molina de Aragón
Castle of Pioz
Castle of Sigüenza
Castle of Torija
Castle of Guadamur
Castle of Oropesa
Castle of Malpica de Tajo
Castle of la Vela
Castle charterhouse of Vallparadís
Castle of Granera
Tower Vermella
Castle of Castellet
Vila Vella enceinte
Castle of Peralada
Castle of Sant Marçal
Castle of les Sitges
Castle of Ratera
Castle of Coria.
Castle Palace of the Counts of Oropesa
Tower of Bujaco
Castle of Olivença
Castle of Zafra (Badajoz)
Alcazaba of Badajoz (Badajoz)
Castle da Rocha Forte
Towers of Altamira
Castle do Castrodouro, keep.
Tower of the Castle dos Andrade
Castle of Vilamarín
Tower of Vilanova dos Infantes
Castle of Soutomaior
Castle of Monterreal in Baiona
Castle of Buitrago del Lozoya
Atalaya de Torrelodones
Castle of Xabier
Castle of Davalillo
Atalaya Castle, Villena
Castle of Biar
Castle of Petrer
Palace of Altamira
Castle of Morella
Castle of Castellnovo
Castle of Onda
Castle of Peñíscola
Castle of Peñíscola
Castle of Marinyén
Towers of Quart
Castle of Ayora
Towers of Serrano in 1870
Castle of Montesa