Castle of Torija, Medieval castle in Torija, Spain.
Castle of Torija is a medieval fortress in the village of Torija, in the Castile-La Mancha region of Spain, built around a rectangular plan with three round corner towers and a square keep made of limestone blocks. It stands on a low rise at the edge of the village, making it visible from the surrounding fields.
The fortress was built in the 11th century by the Knights Templar to help control the border between the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. Over the following centuries it changed hands several times before falling into disrepair, and was restored in the 20th century.
The castle now houses an exhibit devoted to writer Camilo José Cela and his journey through the Alcarria region, which he recorded in a famous travel book. Walking through the rooms, visitors can read about the villages, roads and people that Cela encountered on that trip.
The castle sits at the edge of Torija village and is easy to spot from the main road; driving is the most straightforward way to get there. It is open to visitors most days of the week, though closing on Mondays, so checking the schedule before heading out is a good idea.
The walls of the castle are unusually thin because they were raised before artillery became common on the battlefield. This means the design was never updated to withstand cannon fire, leaving the original military logic of the structure intact.
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