Salvatierra Castle facts for kids
Salvatierra Castle is an old fortress in Spain. It is located near a town called Calzada de Calatrava. This area is in the southern part of the province of Ciudad Real, which is in the region of Castilla-La Mancha. The castle sits on a small hill at the base of a volcano called Mount Atalaya. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from Calzada de Calatrava.
History of Salvatierra Castle
The castle was first built a very long time ago, likely in the 11th or 12th century. It was originally an Islamic building.
Changing Hands
In the late 12th century, the castle came under Christian control. However, it went back to Muslim hands in 1195. Just two years later, in 1197, knights from the Order of Calatrava took it over. These knights made the castle's defenses much stronger.
Battles and Sieges
In 1211, a group called the Almohads captured the castle. This was just one year before a very important battle known as the Battle of Las Navas. During that big campaign, Christian armies passed by Salvatierra Castle. They had already captured the nearby castle of Calatrava.
Instead of attacking Salvatierra Castle, the Christians decided to go straight to find the Almohad leader. This shows how important the main battle was to them. Salvatierra Castle was finally taken back by the Christians around 1225 or 1226.
