Castle of Rueda de Jalón, Medieval fortress in Rueda de Jalón, Spain
The Castle of Rueda de Jalón is a medieval fortress built on an elevated triangular platform with three distinct levels. The structure features square towers made of rammed earth positioned across the mountainside.
The fortress was conquered in 882 by the Banu Qasi of Zaragoza and then withstood multiple sieges. An attack by Alfonso VI of León in 1083 failed to overcome its defenders.
The fortress shows features of Muslim military design from the High Middle Ages, with residential and defensive areas closely connected. The layout and remaining structures reveal how inhabitants combined daily life and protection within a single structure.
The structure is heavily deteriorated and requires immediate restoration, which is why it has been on the Red List of Endangered Heritage since 2007. Visitors should be aware of its unstable condition and use caution when exploring.
Underground chambers are accessible through stairs carved into the rock and connect to a water cistern system that served medieval residents. These hidden water passages show how carefully the fortress infrastructure was designed to withstand prolonged sieges.
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