Peñafiel Castle

The Peñafiel Castle is a castle from the 11th century and is situated on a mountain ridge in the Spanish municipality of Peñafiel over the Duerotal in the province of Valladolid.

History

The ridge was fixed in ancient times by the Romans. Later, under the Muslim occupation was the first castle. The town below the castle was inhabited again in 1014 under Count Garcia Fernandez. King Sancho of Castile is, after he had conquered the Castle of the Moors in the 11th century, have exclaimed with raised sword: " This will be the faithful rocks (Spanish peñafiel ) of Castile ."

The present castle was built in the 14th century but by the Infante Don Juan Manuel, who later became some of the most important pieces of medieval Spanish literature authored.

Peñafiel is on a long, but narrow mountain, so the castle at the widest point is only 23 meters wide but 210 feet long. The ends of the provided with battlements walls taper off together in two places. At its meeting each is a massive round tower. Each side of the unit has twelve crenellated towers with machicolated. Also along the wall, there are massive battlements. Two other towers back up the main gate. The system is divided by a wall in their midst in an eastern and a western area, which was a kennel. Through the gate invading enemies could be so overwhelmed by all sides with arrows or other missiles.

As the bridge of a ship stands at the widest point of the 34 -meter high donjon up. Eight bay towers with battlements and machicolated secure it additionally. As an additional security measure, the complex is surrounded by a dry moat running around it. The castle can be reached so only over a bridge.

Peñafiel was ultimately completed in 1466 by Don Pedro de Girón.

King Alfonso X also was a frequent guest at the castle.