Castle of Almodóvar

The Fortress of the Forest

The Largest Private Restoration

Although its foundations date back to Roman times and its main structure is of Berber origin (740 AD), what you see today is the result of the largest private restoration in Spanish history.

At the end of the 19th century, the Count of Torralva decided to dedicate his life and fortune to rebuilding it. The works lasted 36 years, saving the local economy and leaving us this architectural gem.

Secrets and Curiosities

Its current appearance hides fascinating secrets that blend medieval military history with 20th-century romanticism.

Living Architecture

An overlapping of three eras: Roman base, Andalusian fortress (8th century), and Neo-Gothic recreation (20th century). Few castles show such an evident historical “palimpsest”.

Game of Thrones

An icon of Season 7. It served as Highgarden (House Tyrell) and the dungeons of Casterly Rock. The actors highlighted its impressive conservation.

Medieval Days

Twice a year (March and October), the fortress revives the Middle Ages with knightly combat, music, and reenactments. A total immersion in daily medieval life.

Dungeon of Silence

A prison system from the era of Peter I “The Cruel”. Prisoners were thrown into a deep pit with no exit. Today, it is one of the most striking points of the visit.

Aerial view Almodóvar Castle impregnable fortress

Al-Mudawwar: The Round One

It was never conquered by military assault. Ferdinand III “The Saint” could only take it by starvation after a long siege, allowing the defeated to leave alive.

Projections and living paintings at Almodóvar Castle

Living Paintings & Projections

A unique multimedia experience distributed across the towers: from the “Living Paintings” in the Master’s Tower to documentaries about the Count’s life and the “History of a Dream”.

Architecture of the Fortress

Drone aerial view of Almodóvar Castle and its towers

The castle is a compendium of military engineering featuring 9 main towers. Each fulfilled a vital strategic function in the defense of the fortress.

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Moorish Tower

Located on the eastern flank, it is one of the clearest traces of Al-Mudawwar’s Islamic past. Its unmistakable horseshoe arches face the slope connecting to the town, recalling the era when emirs ruled these lands.

Architectural Fact Its horseshoe arches are the signature of the Caliphate period. It protects the eastern flank, which due to the terrain’s topography, was the most vulnerable.

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Keep (Torre del Homenaje)

The heart of the fortress and the final line of defense. Standing 33 meters high, it is separated from the enclosure by a bridge. In its depths, it guards the **Dungeon of Silence**, a pit where medieval prisoners faced absolute isolation.

Architectural Fact Designed as a “castle within a castle.” Its bridge was an intentional weak point to be destroyed if the parade ground were ever taken.

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Square Tower

Located in the northeast corner, it served both defensive and storage functions. Today, its walls house a collection of siege weapon models and the “History of a Dream” projection, narrating the vision of the Count of Torralva.

Architectural Fact Mudejar paintings found inside prove that, beyond defense, it had high-level residential or representative uses.

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Round Tower

A 10th-century military innovation designed to deflect projectiles and eliminate blind spots. It is one of the most solemn and ancient structures in the enclosure, with key information on the restoration’s curiosities on its ground floor.

Architectural Fact Its cylindrical shape allows for superior structural resistance against base impacts, an advanced technique of Caliphate military engineering.

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Master’s Tower

Offers a vertiginous view of the northern flank over the precipice. Inside, you’ll find the “Living Paintings” projections, a multimedia experience that introduces the fortress’s historical protagonists.

Architectural Fact It guards the north side, which is nearly inaccessible naturally. Its location made it the ideal command post for the lord or master of the fortress.

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Listening Tower

Small but vital, it acted as the early warning system. Its position allowed sentinels to detect enemy movements at angles larger towers couldn’t cover, anticipating any surprise attacks from the slopes.

Architectural Fact Strategically placed to cover visual blind spots. Its lightweight design allowed for rapid communication with the main guard.

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Bell Tower

Historically linked to communication and public alarms. It houses the **armory dedicated to Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba**, the “Great Captain,” a legendary figure in Spanish military history closely tied to Córdoba.

Architectural Fact Its popular name, “Tower of the Crumb” (Torre de la Miga), suggests it was used to signal meal times and shift changes for the garrison.

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Ash Tower

A perimeter reinforcement tower whose name evokes the fortress’s daily life. Historians place the supply areas and forges nearby, where residue from the fires needed for daily survival would accumulate.

Architectural Fact It functions as a supporting bastion in the wall curtain, ensuring there are no unprotected stretches between the larger towers.

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Small Tower

Despite its name, it was critical for controlling the main access. It acted as a customs point and the first guard post, filtering entry to the enclosure and protecting the gate from direct incursions.

Architectural Fact It represents the most modern defensive phase of the castle, with features that facilitated monitoring the main gate from an elevated position.

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The Chapel

A sacred space within the castle, the result of the Neo-Gothic revival led by the Count of Torralva. It stands out for its architectural solemnity, vaults, and the spiritual atmosphere it brings to the 20th-century monument.

Architectural Fact Built over ancient structures during the restoration, it perfectly integrates religious fervor with the chivalric aesthetic of the project.

Chronological History

760

The Umayyad Fortress

Over an ancient Roman fort, the Arabs built Al-Mudawar (“The Round One”). It belonged to the Emirate of Córdoba under the rule of Prince Al-Ghamr.

1240

Surrender to Ferdinand III

During the Reconquista, the castle did not fall by force. It surrendered peacefully to Ferdinand III “The Saint”, becoming part of the Crown of Castile.

1360

Peter I and the Treasure

Peter I “The Cruel” used the castle as a royal residence and treasure chamber. It was fortified to withstand the civil war against his brother Henry II.

1629

The House of Corral

Philip IV sold the fortress to Francisco de Corral y Guzmán. Since then, it has remained in the hands of the same family (today the Marquises of Motilla).

1901-1936

The Monumental Restoration

The 12th Count of Torralva and architect Adolfo Fernández Casanova dedicated 35 years and a fortune to raising the castle from its ruins, restoring its Gothic-Mudejar splendor.

2016