Alarcon Castle (Castillo de Alarcón) in Spain: photo, description, history

In Spain, so beloved by tourists from all over the world, there is a unique place – the town of Alarcon, in the province of Cuenca. It is here that the unique castle of the same name is located.

Story

In the city of Alarcon, a castle rises on a high sheer cliff. The waters of the Hukar River wash its walls from three sides. During the Spanish Reconquista, he defended the borders of Castile. The river in this place is meandering, sharply leaving in sheer cliffs. Its dark waters hold the secrets of this place. According to one version, the castle and the city received their name on behalf of King Alaric II, but this information cannot be considered reliable.

In the VIII century, Mohammed el-Feri lived here, who fought against the rulers of Cordoba. A century later, Alarcon “sheltered” Umar ibn Hafsun, who fought against the Umayyads. The object gained strategic importance during the Reconquista. After all, the paths to Valencia and Murcia opened from here. For this reason, Alfonso VIII decided to conquer Alarcón. It was in the XII century.

The fortress was besieged for many months and only at the very end of the XII century Alarcon surrendered. Its walls were additionally reinforced so that the Arabs could not capture it again. The number of citizens of Alarcon and nearby places began to increase. Over time, a set of laws was formed, and in the middle of the XIII century the city came under the jurisdiction of Cuenca.

In the XIII century, the castle took on the appearance in which we can see it today. External changes since then have been minor. The Order of Santiago, which was given power over the city, received the right to collect a fee from the lands. Over time, the city gradually departed more and more of the surrounding land. The then aristocrats of Spain tried to challenge the right of the rulers of the city of Alarcón to own the city and the castle.

Such names as Don Juan Manuel (medieval Spanish writer, warrior and politician), Constantia (daughter of King Jaime II the Fair) are associated with the castle of Alarcon. After the death of Constance, Alarcon passed to the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago Juan Pacheco. A lot of power was concentrated in his hands.

The geographical location of the castle

A unique view of the entire ancient structure opens from the top of Alarcon. The main tower of the building is especially clearly visible. The defensive wall of the castle, like no other part of it, has survived to our times in its original form. This is a real monument of the Middle Ages. But, despite the fact that it is completely fortified in the most reliable way, its inaccessibility is due to its location. Surrounded by a natural deep moat on three sides and a natural ravine on the fourth, Alarcon is inaccessible to outsiders.

The town stands a little apart, thanks to which the atmosphere here is calm and quiet. Rocky soil does not allow local residents to engage in agriculture. Only vineyards grow well in such an area. How a castle could have arisen in such a place is a mystery. After all, it cost incredible efforts to build it on a rock – temporary, financial, and how many people died here cannot be counted.

Once in Alarcon, you begin to feel involuntarily how ancient these walls are. The ruins of the walls of the fortress, towers, bas-reliefs have survived to our times. It is impossible to take your eyes off such ancient places.

What awaits tourists

What could be more romantic than spending time in a castle? But this is quite real – for a few days to become a guest of a real medieval fortress. In Spain, castles that receive guests and give them shelter are called paradors. In addition to castles and fortresses, any object can become a parador – a monastery, a palace of historical value. At the moment, there are about a hundred of them in the country, and their number is growing, as the demand for such hotels is growing.

Cat lovers will be pleasantly surprised, because in the city of Alarcon there are so many of these animals that, walking along the streets, you constantly stumble upon them with your eyes. Almost all of them are tame and willingly communicate with tourists. It is possible to use a rental car to visit all places in the city. But, usually, those who come here for one day do this. Nevertheless, it is necessary to examine these places slowly in order to remember all the small details of ancient fragments of history.

Arriving in Alarcon, you must by all means taste the local cuisine. The dishes of the medieval restaurant are prepared according to recipes preserved from ancient times. Partridge dishes with lentils, fish dishes (trout, pike – found in the reservoir), venison steak with cheese-nut sauce are especially popular here. The restaurant is exceptionally good.

On hot days, castle guests can enjoy a cold beer or a cup of coffee right in the courtyard. Having become the owner of the keys that open the secret door, you can climb to the defensive floor. Here, on the very roof of the castle, there are loopholes. The view from this height is unforgettable. The river meandering and dark, the sky deep and blue, the sun hot and close – this is what will appear to your gaze. About 170 people live in the city of Alarcon, and one of them is Russian. These are locals. A school is open for children, in which only two teachers work.

Parador de Alarcon Hotel

Alarcon can be visited with a guided tour, or you can stay here for a few days. The only thing to consider is the cost of living. It is somewhat more expensive than a regular hotel room. The cost of daily living in Alarcon depends on the season and the workload of the castle.

The hotel itself is built into the fortress in such a way that the integrity of the historical object is not violated either visually or physically. The ancient walls are preserved in their original form. But, having settled in the room, be prepared for a “surprise”. To look out the window, you have to crawl a little, because the thickness of the old walls surprises everyone with its scale. However, when you get a chance to look outside, the view will be amazing: blue Spanish skies, dark green river and hills… An absolute immersion in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. The main thing is not to forget what century it is. All the furniture in the rooms is wooden, stylized in the style of the Middle Ages.

Alarcon Castle became open to guests after the reconstruction in 2003. The fortress greeted visitors with its appearance restored by the best architects. The Parador de Alarcon Hotel opened here. This national parador is still active today. The territory of the fortress has everything you need for a comfortable stay. There is free car parking for guests, there is a laundry room, a beautiful garden. Climbing the tower, you can admire the amazing views that open up to the eyes of everyone who enters here.

Check-in rules are not much different from the standard rules in most hotels in Spain. Check-in starts at 14:00, check-out between 8:00 and 12:00. The cost of the room must be specified in advance, but on average it is 150 euros. Small children under 2 years of age stay free of charge. For them, an extra bed is simply placed in a room with adults. The medieval fortress of Alarcón is one of the most important tourist sites in Spain.