Castillo de Oreja, Medieval castle on a hilltop in Ontígola, Spain.
Castillo de Oreja is a medieval castle on a rocky cliff above the Tagus River, near the town of Ontígola in the Toledo province of Spain. What remains today includes a rectangular keep, stretches of defensive wall, and arrow loops carved into the stone.
The site goes back to a Roman settlement and was later developed as a stronghold under Muslim rule. Alfonso VII took it in 1139 after a long siege, marking a turning point that shaped Christian control over this part of the Tagus valley.
The ruins sit on a rocky outcrop above the Tagus River, and from there the view over the valley explains why so many rulers fought to hold this spot. Each year on August 15th, former residents of the abandoned village that once stood here return to mark the occasion together.
The castle is reached on foot along hiking paths from Ontígola or Noblejas, and sturdy shoes are needed because the terrain is steep and rocky. The surface can be slippery after rain, so allow extra time and take care on the final approach to the ruins.
The site appears on the Red List of Endangered Heritage, meaning its ruins are at risk of further deterioration without active intervention. Some of the stones from the old settlement were removed over the centuries and reused in nearby buildings, which is why parts of the original layout are now missing.
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