Costa Blanca Castle Route: Medieval Spain!
The walls might have ears, but what a pity that they can not talk! Everyone who loves medieval history and romance would like to hear the stories about those times when the states were ruled by kings and in the streets of the city one could meet a knight. Castles in Spain are silent, but still attractive with their beauty and mystery. On the coast there are about 200 castles, including low towers, lighthouses, ancient prisons and forts. Each building has traces of antiquity and important historical artefacts in every corner.
If you are interested in history, you cannot miss this part of Costa Blanca! Get in the car and go on a tour around the Castles of Costa Blanca from Alicante to Denia, following our convenient guide. It will take about 5 hours to drive between all the castles, and each one will need about 2 hours to go around. Better to plan it as a 3-4 day trip. And for a comfortable trip you just need a smartphone, Google maps and a good mood.
Santa Barbara Castle
Castell de la Santa Barbara: 03002 Alicante, Alicante
Santa Barbara Castle
Most of the Castles of Costa Blanca are located close to the coastline, as defensive structures. The coastal part in the Middle Age was often subject to raids by pirates and other invaders wishing to take over the fertile lands of sunny Spain. Many travellers that rent a summer house on the Costa Blanca can view them from their window. Therefore, many fortresses were built on the hills. One of them is Castell de la Santa Barbara, Spain's largest historic landmark, with a total area of more than 50,000 square meters. The castle is in the centre of Alicante, southwest of Denia. The fortress is located at an altitude of 166 meters above sea level. There is everything for the comfort of tourists: parking spaces, cafes, entertainment for children and "natural history"; stone paths, walls with arrow slits, ancient artefacts and excursions around the castle with miniature installations of the events of ancient times. This fortress has three levels, representing different historical times. The main watchtower of the Moorish era - the beginning of the 8th century, when the Moors and Berbers invaded Spain, and in the shortest time captured almost the entire peninsula - is located up at the top. The middle one, the longer one, is a museum of relics of the 16th century. There is a military building, a museum of torture, a weapons area, the ruins of a chapel and even a royal bastion. And at the bottom, hidden from prying eyes, an underground dungeon and platform with siege guns. To explore all the rooms of the castle you need about 6 hours. The fortress of Santa Barbara is a beautiful historical museum, silent and mysterious.
Vinalopo Valley
Alt Vinalopo: Alicante
In the north-west of Alicante, about a half-hour away, there is a place called the valley of castles. In the Middle Ages, along the river Vinalopo, was the border between the Kingdom of Aragon and the Kingdom of Castile. As a consequence of multiple wars between the kingdoms, there are three large castles: Biar, Atalaya and Sax, which steadfastly defended the Moors northern, fertile territories from the Aragonese. The Moors were an Arab people who owned the lands of medieval Spain from the 9th to the 15th century.
Sax Castle
Castillo de Sax: Calle Castillo, 5, 03630 Sax, Alicante
Sax rises by 524 meters above sea level and stands on the slope of the cliff. Artefacts dating back to the 11th and 12th century, as well as the Roman period, have been found on the grounds of the castle. The castle has also witnessed important historical events, such as, the war for the Spanish inheritance from 1701 to 1714 and the War of Independence from 1816 to 1824. It was part of the main border fortifications, called "the three great fortresses of Alto Vinalopo," it was attacked by the Knights of the Order of Calatrava in 1239, who captured Castile and took it in subjection to the crown of Catholic monarchs. Now Sax has become one of the important tourist attractions of the Costa Blanca and another reason to rent a property on the Costa Blanca. Tours to this castle are free and take place once a week, on Sundays; on the remaining days it is closed. On Fridays and Saturdays, various festivals, cinema forums and presentations take place at the castle.
Atalaya Castle
Castillo de la Atalaya: Calle Mirador, 03400 Villena, Alicante
Atalaya Castle
Atalaya, is located on a rocky hill and looks like a small watchtower. Next to the castle is an archaeological museum with interesting exhibits, like gold ornaments of the 10th century. Entrence to Atalaya Castle is free.
Biar Castle
Castell de Biar: Explanada del Castillo, 03410 Biar, Alicante
Biar Castle
Bjar, the last castle in the valley of Vinalopo, is situated to the east, 7-8 kilometres from Atalaya, and looks very impressive and serious. Inside you can see medieval furniture, a 12th-century building where the masonry has survived to present day, as well as other interesting exhibits and then climb the spiral staircase to the main tower. The view from the tower is amazing; you can see houses, vineyards and distant mountains.
Guadalest
El Castillo de Guadalest: 03517, Alicante
Guadalest
An hour's drive to the east of the three great fortresses, through the city of Alcoy, the historic centre of the battle of the Moors and Christians, is situated the city-fortress of Guadalest, near Benidorm, country houses, farms, coast and the sea. The city-fortress is located on picturesque rocky terrain, called the valley of museums, due to the many museums here. Guadalest is very important; it was built in the 11th century by the Moors inside the hill, an eight-meter long tunnel was cut through the rock, which made the city impregnable. And only after 200 years, the castle together with citrus, almond and olive groves was captured by Christians.
San Jose Castle
Portal de Sant Josep: Costera de Gabriel Miro, 03517 El Castell de Guadalest, Alicante
San Jose Castle
Next to castle Guadalest, are two more castles, both equally important to Spanish history: San Jose and the Fortress of the Kings. San Jose castle has a watchtower and an observation deck with incredible views to the valley of Guadalest: mountains, peasant houses of the Moors, a local water reservoir and the Fortress of the Kings itself. It is said that it used to be the treasury of the Spanish Kings, unfortunately now partially destroyed; however the Gothic church and cemetery has survived to the present day. The churches pointed fences, red brick and murals still attract curious tourists.
Denia Castle
Castell de Denia: Calle Cavallers, 1, 29640 Denia, Alicante
Denia Castle
In the east of the valley of Guadalest, in the centre of the small resort town of Denia, there is another ancient castle. In the 11th century it was built by the Arabs, who at that time owned the coast. The bastion successfully defended the town from enemies for many centuries, until Napoleon Bonaparte at the beginning of the 19th century completely destroyed the old walls and seized it. The cost of visiting for an adult is 3 euros, and for children under 12 years - free. From top of one of the towers is a wide view of the city, the sea and the harbour. It is worth it to climb the tower, if you like to make beautiful pictures.
It is a pity that the walls cannot talk. But good that they are able to preserve the history and architecture for dozens of centuries ahead. Castles of medieval Spain and such historical monuments as the valley of Vinalopo, store the blood of military battles, victories, hundreds of palace coups, intrigues and much more that we will never know. But we will be able to observe these stone walls, towers, balconies and look through the arrow slits into the courtyards of the mysterious fortresses for several centuries more. It’s time for us to enjoy our comfortable apartment on the Costa Blanca and recover from such a long road trip.
