Spanish Castles
Castles in Spain are some of the most spectacular ancient buildings preserved in the country. The Spanish castles are Europe’s finest architectural heritages. Spain is host to at least 2,000 such old fortresses. The Spanish hill top castles are excellent places to visit and stay. Most of these castles dating back to 1,000 years are turned into castle hotels. They add a touch of elegance to the palaces that is preserved until the 21st century. The castles built at least 1,000 years ago were used as hospitals, cardinal’s palaces, monasteries, and estates owned by many royal families of Spain.
About Spanish castles
The Spanish castles are among the top visited places in Spain cities. There are special tour packages offered by many travel companies to explore these citadels. To have a feeling of the ancient heritage and architectural significance of the country, visiting these fortress are necessary. The Paradores de Turismo Hotel chain in Spain has restored some of the finest fortified palaces and castillos in the country. They are now glamorous hotels representing the architectural heritage of the country. These castle hotels provide fine accommodation, king-size living, and excellent food. They are also popular places for hosting a unique wedding. The Moors and Visigoths built most of these castles hotels. The architecture of the Span citadels reflects the utilitarian medieval, Celtic, and Gothic style largely. Many of them have the Romanesque and Renaissance style as well. Initially there were around 10,000 such castles built before after the invasion near the Iberian Peninsula. There are today just around 2,000 preserved in their actual form with minor renovations.
History of Spanish castles
The castles of Spain were built for the purpose of defense. In the Middle Ages, the country needed to be protected against Muslim invasions. During Spain’s re-conquering of the Iberian Peninsula, more castles were built in the country. The purpose altered later and these stone structures acted as official and summer residences of noble families. Many of them also served as monasteries, cathedrals, hospitals, and shelters during emergency.
Spanish castles location
The attractive castles in Spain are located in the interior towns and cities. The regions surrounding the castles have developed into popular tourist spots. There are multiple shops, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment for tourists. Often, the tour packages to Spanish castles include three to four of the top castles in one particular region. As these castillos are not close to the airports and central part of the city, the main accessibility is by car, bus, or shuttle service.
Tourists can visit any of these towns and cities in Spain to see some of the attractive castles there:
- Aragon
- Andalusia
- Seville
- M?laga
- Granada
- C?diz
- Almer?a
- Basque Country
- Baleares
- Cantabria
- Catalonia
- Galicia
- Madrid
- Navarre
- Valencia
- La Rioja
Popular Spanish castles
Of the 2,000 castle existing in the different cities of Spain, around 15 have turned into castle hotels. There are other fortified palaces and royal family residence that widely visited by tourists to Spain. These castles are part of the sightseeing tours within the Spain cities. From the architectural elegance, construction, massive rooms, and old furniture, everything is attractive about these fortresses.
?Below given are few castles that have gained prominence among tourists.
- Alcazar of Segovia – This is among the top castles visited in the nation. It has attractive interiors with ancient furnishing. This citadel was the residence of the Spanish royalty. ?
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- Alcazar of Toledo- Another great-fortified palace located in Toledo city. It is popular for being the shelter for the army during Spanish Civil War. The main highlight of the Alcazar today is the museum.
- Castillo de Coca - Coca Castle – This castle holds the memorabilia of Napoleans invasion in the place.
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- The Alcazar of Almeria
- Castillo de Penafiel – The region surrounding this old palace makes it even more interesting to tourists. It is also known for its elegant architecture.
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- Castle of Butr?n in Basque Country
Top Spanish castle hotels
Spanish castles hotels are part of the boutique and luxury hotel chain in the country. It is a unique place to spend your vacation. Foreign travelers often arrange their weddings in these former royal residences. The Spanish castle hotels offer luxurious accommodation, dining, bar facility, horse-riding, terrace lounge, and well-decorated corridors and lawns.
- Astillo de Monda, Andalucia
- elBulli Hacienda Benazuza, Andalucia
- Hotel Cortijo Torre de la Reina, Andalucia
- Parador de Chinch?n, Madrid
- Parador de Monforte de Lemos, Galicia
- Parador de Cardona, Catalu?a
- Parador de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia
- Hostal del Cardenal, Castilla-La Mancha
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