Sobroso Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sobroso Castle |
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| Castelo de Sobroso Castillo de Sobroso |
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| Vilasobroso - Mondariz, Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain | |
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 Sobroso Castle
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| Coordinates | 42°12′21″N 8°27′49″W / 42.205972°N 8.46375°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Height | 13 m (42 ft 8 in) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Concello de Ponteareas |
| Operator | Diputación de Pontevedra |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Restored |
| Site history | |
| Built | 9th century |
| Materials | Stone |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Portela Arenaria Irmandiño revolt |
| Events | Imprisonment and escape of Urraca of León and Castile |
Sobroso Castle (Spanish: Castillo de Sobroso, Galician: Castelo de Sobroso) is an old, amazing castle in the village of Vilasobroso, located in Galicia, Spain. It is a place full of history and cool stories!
Contents
Where is Sobroso Castle?
Sobroso Castle stands in Vilasobroso, a small village in the area of Mondariz. This area is part of a larger region called O Condado. The castle is built on Landín Hill.
From this hill, you can see the whole Condado valley. You can even see all the way to the border with Portugal! Because of its great location, the castle was once known as "the key of the Kingdom of Galicia".
What Does the Name "Sobroso" Mean?
The name of the castle, and the village around it, comes from an old Latin word: SUBEROSUM. This word refers to 'sobreiras', which are cork trees. Many cork trees used to grow around the castle a long time ago.
The Castle's History
Sobroso Castle was once in ruins, but it was brought back to life! A local journalist named Alejo Carrera Muñoz worked hard to restore it. In 1923, he bought the castle ruins from the Count of Torre Cedeira. He paid 5,000 pesetas, which was the money used in Spain back then.
Alejo Carrera Muñoz worked on the restoration all by himself. He did not get any help from local governments. He kept working on the castle until he passed away in 1967.
Later, in 1981, the nearby town of Ponteareas bought the castle. They bought it from Carrera's only child for 30 million pesetas. Starting in 1995, the local council of Ponteareas began their own work to restore the castle.
Today, the castle is a cultural and ethnographic museum. This means it shows how people lived and worked in the past.
Who Owns the Castle Now?
In 2014, the Ponteareas town council signed an agreement. They let the provincial council of Pontevedra use the castle for 10 years. As part of this agreement, the provincial council would fix up the castle even more. They would also help tell people about Sobroso Castle. They wanted to promote it alongside other famous castles like Soutomaior and Baiona.
See also
- In Spanish: Castillo de Sobroso para niños
