El Castellar, Medieval castle ruins in Torres de Berrellén, Spain
El Castellar is a medieval castle perched on a limestone cliff about 320 meters (1,050 feet) above sea level, overlooking the Ebro River and featuring defensive walls and stone foundations. The ruins spread across a substantial area, still revealing the original layout with its distinct building complexes and fortified structures.
King Sancho Ramírez ordered construction of this fortress in 1091 as a strategic stronghold against the Muslim-held city of Zaragoza. It remained an important defensive position for centuries, marking the boundary between Christian and Muslim-controlled territories.
The fortress included four places of worship: the churches of San Miguel and San Pedro, plus the hermitages of Santa María Magdalena and Nuestra Señora del Rosario. These religious buildings shaped daily life for those who lived here and served both spiritual and practical community needs.
Access to certain sections requires crossing through areas used for military training exercises, as parts of the ruins lie within the San Gregorio maneuver field. Check access conditions before your visit and stay on permitted routes.
The fortress preserves fourteen channels on its eastern side that formed a qanat irrigation system connected to a water trough lower down the hillside. This underground water system demonstrates the engineering skill of medieval builders in solving water supply challenges at high elevations.
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