Priego Castle
From Medina Bagha to the Order of Calatrava
In the heart of Andalusia, this castle is a palimpsest that narrates the history of the frontier. Born as Medina Bagha under the Umayyad Emirate, it was a rebel bastion in the Fitna and a commandery of the Order of Calatrava.
Its walls have witnessed sieges, betrayals by squires, and the consolidation of the powerful Marquisate of Priego. After centuries of abandonment and use as a cereal silo, today it re-emerges as a monument guarding the memory of the Moorish Band.
Secrets and Curiosities
Between its towers and cisterns hide stories of war, tragic love, and archaeological mysteries.
In the year 886, the Muladi leader Umar ibn Hafsun took the plaza of Medina Bagha, turning it into a key focus of resistance during the civil war that shook the Emirate of Córdoba.
A squire in command of the fortress, taking advantage of the absence of the Commander of Calatrava, sold the castle to the Nasrid king Muhammad IV, temporarily returning it to Islamic rule.
Recent excavations discovered medieval arrowheads embedded in the walls of the Keep, physical evidence frozen in time of a fierce siege.
Tradition tells the story of three Moorish princesses in love with Christian knights. Two fled, but the youngest, Zorahaida, was trapped and died of grief, becoming the “soul” of the castle.
The imposing Keep, 30 meters high, has been a National Monument since 1943. Its original elevated access made it an impregnable redoubt within the castle itself.
In the 20th century, far from its military glory, the castle was used as a wheat warehouse by the National Cereal Service, a pragmatic use that paradoxically helped preserve its walls.
Anatomy of the Fortress
A complex defensive system combining Calatrava Cistercian engineering with Nasrid refinement and seigniorial reforms.
With its 30 meters height, this off-center tower (albarrana) is the heart of the fortress. Built by the Order of Calatrava, it houses three superimposed rooms covered with barrel vaults. It was the last defensive redoubt and residence of the commander.
The walled perimeter is marked by six square-plan towers and one cylindrical one. These massive structures up to the height of the wall-walk reinforced the wall sections, allowing flanking and active defense against assaults.
One of the towers breaks the quadrangular monotony with its circular plan. Located at a strategic angle, this shape allowed better deflection of primitive artillery projectiles and offered a wider field of vision to the defenders.
On the ground floor of the Keep is the main cistern. With no access from the outside, it was supplied by downspouts that collected rainwater from the terrace, guaranteeing survival in case of total isolation.
During the seigniorial reforms of the 16th century, an attempt was made to modernize the habitability of the tower by building a plaster spiral staircase. Now disappeared, its archaeological traces tell us of the attempt to transform the fortress into a palace.
On the noble floor of the Keep, windows open with double horseshoe arches and mullions, decorated with muqarnas capitals. This refined detail contrasts with the exterior austerity and denotes the influence or Mudejar/Nasrid workmanship.
Timeline
Medina Bagha
During the Fitna, Priego becomes a rebel fortress under the control of Umar ibn Hafsun and his allies.
Conquest by Ferdinand III
Castilian troops take the square by fire and sword. In 1246 it is handed over to the Order of Calatrava, which rebuilds the castle.
The Betrayal
The fortress falls back into Muslim hands due to the betrayal of its squire, sold to the King of Granada.
Definitive Recovery
Alfonso XI the Just reconquers Priego definitively, integrating it into the crown before ceding it to the lordship of Aguilar.
National Monument
Official declaration recognizing its historical value and halting deterioration, although its use as a silo continued for a few more decades.
Archaeological Revelation
Restoration campaign that discovers embedded arrows and defines the exact chronology of the construction phases.
Image Gallery
Plan Your Visit
“Enter the fortress of the Moorish Band”
Hours
Monday to Sunday:
Mornings: 11:00 – 14:00
Afternoons: 17:00 – 19:30 (Winter) / 18:30 – 20:30 (Summer)
Closed: Monday afternoon and special holidays.Information and Reservations
General Rate: €1.50
Tourist Office: 957 70 06 25
informacion@turismodepriego.com
Plaza de la Constitución, 3
Don’t Miss
The Villa Neighborhood and the Adarve Balcony, adjacent to the castle.
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