Subbetica

Doña Mencía Castle

Doña Mencía Castle

Fortaleza medieval con torres cilíndricas y cuadradas, integrada en el casco urbano, ofrece un atractivo histórico y arquitectónico para los turistas.

The castle as we know it today was built by Diego Fernández de Córdoba in the 15th century. The fortress, with cylindrical towers at the corners and square ones along its sides – notably the ‘Homenaje’ tower – is perfectly integrated into the town centre, its presence helping to enhance the surroundings and lend them a medieval charm. A total of five phases of occupation have marked the history of Doña Mencía Castle. The first, dating from the late Roman period, around the 4th, 5th and 6th centuries, was a rural ‘villa’ settlement dedicated to agricultural work. A second phase occurred in the 13th century, when members of the Order of Calatrava built a watchtower. The third phase took place in the early 15th century, when Mudejar architects in the service of the House of Fernández de Córdoba built the castle to accommodate a larger number of troops. The fourth phase, which began in the 16th century, saw the castle transformed into a storehouse, granary and mill, and continued into the 19th century. As for the fifth phase, this took place at the beginning of the 20th century, under the care of the Sisters of Christ the King.