El Castell de Guadalest, Mountain fortress village in Marina Baixa, Spain
Guadalest is a village of white stone buildings perched on a granite mountain peak at about 571 meters high, overlooking a reservoir. The houses sit tightly together and use the rock as natural walls, with the tight layout adapting organically to the steep terrain.
The original castle was founded by Moors in 715 and controlled the entire Marina valley passage. After Christian reconquest during the Reconquista period, the fortification was expanded and continued serving as a key defensive point for the region.
The village is marked by the San José gateway, a tunnel carved directly into rock that serves as the sole passage to the medieval old town. This narrow passage shapes daily life and creates a natural boundary between the modern and historic sections.
The village can be explored on foot, though the climb is steep and sturdy shoes are needed. Several museums inside offer breaks from walking, and there are parking areas and cafés nearby for refreshments.
One museum in the village houses a collection of over 20,000 salt and pepper shakers from different countries. This unusual gathering was assembled over several decades and shows how this everyday table accessory takes different forms and styles across cultures.
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