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Spanish Castles: 6 Best Castles in Spain

July 31, 2021 by Claire Filed Under: Europe, Spain 7 Comments

Looking for an amazing castle in Spain to visit? Here is a list of the best castles in Spain

There are so many amazing castles in Europe and you’ll find many of those beautiful castles in Spain.

Sunny Spain is a popular destination for us Brits looking to escape the fickle British weather but there is so much more to Spain than good weather and relaxing beaches. Spain is rich in history and it’s reported there are around 2,500 castles in Spain!

Obviously, it would take a long time to explore all the castles so here is my list of the 6 best and most fairy-tale-like castles in Spain. Which ones will you want to visit? 

 

- Contents

  • 1 6 Beautiful Castles in Spain
    • 1.1 Alcázar de Segovia
    • 1.2 Coca Castle
    • 1.3 Royal Palace of Olite
    • 1.4 Peñiscola Castle
    • 1.5 New Castle of Manzanares el Real
    • 1.6 Castillo de Loarre
  • 2 Spain Inspiration

6 Beautiful Castles in Spain

 

Alcázar de Segovia

This list had to start with Alcazar de Segovia, one of the most famous castles in Spain. This beautiful castle is mostly known for being the inspiration behind Cinderella’s castle. Located on a hill overlooking the city of Segovia, the castle stands out for being shaped like the bow of a ship. Originally built by Mediterranean Muslims as a fortress, it has also served as a royal palace and even a state prison.

The Alcazar is the symbol of the old city of Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and this magnificent castle is open to visitors. Entrance only costs €6 or €9 if you want access to the Tower of Juan II. Although it’s worth keeping in mind that the tower has a spiral staircase consisting of 152 steps.

Alcazar de Segovia - one of the best castles in Spain

 

Coca Castle

Built in the 15th century, Castillo de Coca, or Coca Castle, is located on the outskirts of the town Coca which is in the Segovia region of Spain. This magnificent castle is considered one of the best examples of Spanish Gothic-Mudejar brickwork.

While you can walk around the ramparts for free, to see the interior you will need to join a guided tour. During the tour you’ll get to see the chapel, weapons room, museum room, gallery tower, the lookout, north gallery, jugs room and dungeon.

Castillo de Coca - one of the most beautiful castles in Spain

 

Royal Palace of Olite

The Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite, also known as the Royal Palace of Olite, is made up of three parts. The Old Palace (now called the National Parador) was the original part and built in the 13th century. You’ll also find the ruins of Chapel of San Jorge, a gothic church built inside the Palace. The newest part is the New Palace, built in the 15th century.

Guided tours are available for €5 where you’ll be taken around the ground floor and first floors of the palace. After the tour you are free to wander around the six towers.

 

Peñiscola Castle

The Castillo de Peñíscola is a castle in Peniscola that sits 64 metres above sea level overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The current form of the castle was created by the Knights Templar during the 12th century.

The surrounding area of the castle is a popular beach resort town, making the castle a must see attraction to many people. A large part of the castle grounds have been turned into a botanic garden. With stunning views of the ocean and the peaceful atmosphere of the garden it’s easy to see why this castle is popular.

 

New Castle of Manzanares el Real

Also known as Mendoza Castle after the royal family that lived there, this beautiful castle was erected in the 15th century in the town of Manzanares el Real at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range. It is one of the best preserved castles of the Community of Madrid.

The castle is open for visitors and nowadays is home to a museum dedicated to showcasing the history of Spanish castles. It’s a great castle to visit for its panoramic views of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain ridge.

 

Castillo de Loarre

Built largely in the 11th and 12th centuries, Castillo de Loarre, or Loarre Castle, is a Romanesque Castle and Abbey located near the town of Loarre. Perched on the southern foothills of the Pyrnees, Loarre Castle is said to be the oldest fortified castle in Spain.

Today the grounds are open for visits so you can stroll around the grounds and admire the stunning views. Tickets for the castle cost €6 or €8 for a guided tour which lasts about an hour.

 

There you have it, six beautiful castles to visit in Spain. Which will you visit first? Have you been to any already? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Spain Inspiration

Looking for more amazing things to do in Spain? Why not check out some of these posts

  • Outdoor Activities in Tenerife
  • Scuba Diving in Tenerife
  • Hiking in Tenerife
  • Books Set in Spain

 

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Looking for an amazing castle in Spain to visit? There are so many beautiful castles in Spain to choose from so here is a list of the best castles in Spain - here there is a castle for everyone to enjoy | Spain Itinerary | Things to do in Spain | Day Trips in Spain | Spanish Castles | Castles in Europe

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Related posts:
10 Awesome Outdoor Activities in Tenerife
Going Hiking in Tenerife
Polish Castles: The 12 Best Castles in Poland
40 Incredible Books Set in Spain to Inspire Your Next Trip

Comments

  1. Joe says

    July 31, 2021 at 11:57 am

    I’m a sucker for castles that are perched atop dramatic scenery, so instinctively the ones I want to see the most from this list are Peniscola Castle and Castillo de Loarre 🙂

    Reply
  2. Sue says

    July 31, 2021 at 2:37 pm

    All these castles are beautiful! I’d 💕 be to visit them all someday.

    Reply
  3. Krista says

    July 31, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    I love visiting Spanish castles, but I’ve only been to one on this list! I love the look of Coca Castle – such a shame I didn’t know about it while I was near Segovia!

    Reply
  4. simplyjolayne says

    July 31, 2021 at 8:57 pm

    I have visited the castle in Segovia and that was pretty awesome. The Castillo de Loarre looks pretty awesome too.

    Reply
  5. Linnea says

    July 31, 2021 at 9:13 pm

    Love this guide! Mendoza Castle looks beautiful! I didn’t know they had so many beautiful castles.

    Reply
  6. Alex says

    August 1, 2021 at 8:26 am

    Some great finds. They are all stunning and dramatic

    Reply
  7. Shelby Lamb says

    August 3, 2021 at 3:11 am

    Love the idea of visiting these castles! Any time we see posts like this we immediately save them for photography destinations!

    Reply

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