Castle of Maqueda, Military fortress in Maqueda, Spain
The Castle of Maqueda is a rectangular fortress in the town of Maqueda, in the Castile-La Mancha region of Spain, with four round corner towers and thick walls reinforced with brick. The structure sits across two different ground levels, which gives the building an unusual profile when seen from outside.
The fortress was first built with Moorish features, reflecting the early medieval presence in this part of central Spain. In the 15th century, Don Gutiérrez de Cárdenas ordered a major rebuilding that gave the castle the form it has today.
The Castle of Maqueda towers over the small town around it, and its silhouette is visible from many points in the surrounding area. The building is closely tied to the identity of the town, which grew in its shadow over the centuries.
The exterior of the castle can be seen freely from the streets around it at any time of day. The interior houses a Guardia Civil museum, which generally requires advance arrangements to visit.
The Castle of Maqueda has no central keep, which sets it apart from most fortresses of its era and size. In place of a tower, the walls are topped with a distinctive row of merlons that draw the eye when looking at the building from outside.
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