Belmonte Castle

Worth a visit! This castle is quite lovely with various rooms to visit. You can walk all along the castle walls which is quite unique and you can get amazing photos of the city. Buying tickets in advance or at the window is recommended. If you’re also in the area, go visit the windmills as it’s around a 10 minute drive so you could do both trips in one day!

Belmonte Castle, situated in the picturesque town of Belmonte, Cuenca, Spain, is a stunning example of medieval architecture, blending Gothic and Mudejar styles. It was built in the second half of the 15th century by Don Juan Pacheco, the first Marquis of Villena, it stands atop San Cristóbal hill, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The castle's unique star-shaped design, with six towers reaching 22 meters high, makes it a standout among European fortresses. The fortress was practically abandoned between the 17th and 18th centuries and was more or less ruinous by the early 19th century. The heiress of the house of Villena, Eugenia de Guzman, better known as the Empress Eugenia de Montijo and her architect Alejandro Sureda began a restoration project in 1857, keeping the exterior in the original style but updating the interior to modern tastes. Its rich history includes the abive periods of abandonment and restoration, notably by Empress Eugenia de Montijo in the 19th century. It later served as a prison for the Partido Judicial de Belmonte, and as an Onsimo Redondo academy for the Francoist 'Frente de Juventudes'. It was abandoned and began to deteriorate again, before being made a cultural monument in 1931. It is now owned by the descendants of the empress' sister Maria Francisca de Sales Portocarrero. It was restored again in summer 2010 and opened to the public. Today, it is a Bien de Interés Cultural, hosting guided tours and exhibitions that delve into its fascinating past. Visitors can explore its grand halls, admire the intricate Mudejar ceilings, and enjoy the panoramic views from its ramparts. The castle's strategic location in Castilla-La Mancha makes it an ideal day trip for history enthusiasts and those exploring the region's cultural heritage. After visiting the castle, a stroll through the charming town of Belmonte offers a chance to enjoy local cuisine and hospitality.

Wonderful restored castle. It is a beautiful place to roam around with the information on the scan code in English or Spanish. It's very informative. My only issue was the extra 3€ for views the weapons etc at the exterior of the castle. Still it was worth the entrance fee of 8€

An awesome visit! The castle is really impressive and in an excellent status of conservation. This visit is a must do if you are in the area. Reserve at least one hour for the visit. As the castle is in the top of a hill, the views from the towers are awesome. It has also an interesting theme park dedicated a war machinery (trebuchets)

Great experience for all ages. You can already feel the history of this place as you see it in the distance while driving. 15€ including a guided tour of the trebuchet park where they explain all the medieval weapons with a working trebuchet (catapult) that you get to fire. You can download the Spain heritage app and audio for the castle tour. My cell coverage was spotty and they were able to provide me with WiFi access to download the app and audio when I asked the clerk. Lots to explore, we took about 3 hours to see everything taking pictures along the way. Castillo de Belmonte, a must see Cheers!

Worth seeing and lots of views of the country and small town. Amazing to see such an old castle/fortress in such good condition, and be able to take photos and your time when exploring the inside and surrounding area. There are 5 towers to climb up and overlook in all directions, and u will also see three old windmills that were talked about in Don Quioti's novel. This place is in the middle of no-where, and a few minutes after u leave and look back, u won't see anything again - a very well hidden place with all the hills around.

Very impressive castle, with fantastic views. Well maintained. The classic castle in Spain !

15th century castle rebuilt in the 19th by Eugenia de Montijo. Audio guide available and typically there's people dressed in costumes showing how it used to be back then. Interesting and fun. Great place to visit. Price was a it too high in my view, costed 13 eur per person... A price of 8-10 would have been expected as there's more to see than in most castles. Recommended.