Castle of Peñaranda de Duero explained

Peñaranda Castle
Native Name:Castillo de Peñaranda de Duero
Location:Peñaranda de Duero, Burgos province, Spain
Coordinates:41.69°N -3.4814°W
Type:Castle
Ownership:Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (Spain)
Open To Public:Yes
Condition:Partially preserved
Built:10th century; rebuilt 15th century
Materials:Ashlar stone
Past Commanders:Counts of Miranda del Castañar (House of Zúñiga):
Garrison:Diego López de Zúñiga y Guzmán
Pedro de Zúñiga y Avellaneda
Francisco de Zúñiga Avellaneda y Velasco
Juan de Zúñiga y Avellaneda

The castle of Peñaranda de Duero, located in Peñaranda de Duero, Spain, is a well preserved Gothic castle in Burgos province. The castle originally dates from the 10th century but reforms by Counts of Miranda del Castañar in the 15th century changed much of the building.[1] Today the castle stands at the start of a defensive wall that formerly surrounded the town, of which only the crenellated arch of "Las Monjas" still stands.

The castle was an important point on the fortified line which existed between the medieval Christian Kingdom of Castile and the Moor state of Al Andalus during the 10th century. The castle is a narrow walled precinct, with a four story keep rising from the center. The keep features a rooftop terrace, battlements, a gallery of machiolations, and three additional square towers, two of which flank the ogival arch that marks the entrance. The walls are solid stone ashlar stone, although much of the keep features decorative wooden beams.[2]

Today, the Castle of Peñaranda de Duero serves as one of the many historical monuments and tourist attractions in the area. Tourists are charged a small admission fee between 1 and 2 euros for entry.

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peñaranda castle . . April 4, 2012 .
  2. http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/arte/monumentos/burgos/castillo_de_penaranda.html Peñaranda castle