Santa Bárbara Castle facts for kids
The Santa Bárbara Castle (also known as Castell de Santa Bàrbara in Valencian and Castillo de Santa Bárbara in Spanish) is a large old fort in the city of Alicante, Spain. It sits high up on Mount Benacantil, which is 166 meters (about 545 feet) tall. This castle is a very important landmark in Alicante.
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A Look Back in Time: The Castle's History
Even before the castle was built, people lived on Mount Benacantil. Scientists have found old items from the Bronze Age, the Iberians (an ancient people of Spain), and the Roman Empire on the mountain slopes.
How the Castle Began
The castle we see today started to be built around the 9th century. This was when Muslim rulers controlled much of Spain, from the year 711 to 1296. An old Arab geographer named Al-Idrisi called the mountain Banu-lQatil. The name of the mountain might come from the Arabic word pinna (meaning "peak") and laqanti, which is related to Laqant, the Arabic name for Alicante.
Changes Through the Centuries
On December 4, 1248, Christian forces led by Alfonso X of Castile took control of the castle. They named it after Saint Barbara, because they captured it on her special day.
Later, in 1296, the kingdom of Aragon took over the castle during the time of James II of Aragon. He ordered the castle to be rebuilt. Other rulers like Peter IV of Aragon, Charles I of Spain, and Philip II of Spain also made sure the castle was rebuilt and made stronger over the years.
Battles and Changes
The castle faced attacks over the years. In 1691, a French navy group attacked it with cannons. During the War of the Spanish Succession, the British held the castle for three years. In 1873, the castle and the city were attacked by a group called the cantonalistas from a warship named Numancia.
From Fort to Prison and Beyond
After the 18th century, the castle was not used as much for military battles. Sometimes, it was used as a prison. For a short time after the Spanish Civil War ended in April 1939, it was used to hold prisoners.
The castle was then left empty until 1963. That year, it was opened to the public so everyone could visit. Today, you can even take lifts inside the mountain to reach the top! There are also guided tours, and you can find places to get food and drinks at the top.
See also
- In Spanish: Castillo de Santa Bárbara para niños
