Belmonte Castle

Belmonte was built from 1456 for Juan Pacheco, Marquis of Villena, a powerful and slippery figure at the court of Enrique IV, and its plan is unusual: a triangular enceinte with a six-pointed star-shaped inner ward, round towers at the corners and a keep, in a mixture of Gothic and Mudejar work with fine carved ceilings and window tracery. It was abandoned, used as a prison, and partly restored in the nineteenth century for the Empress Eugenie, who was descended from the Pacheco line. A further restoration completed in 2010 refurnished the interiors. It now stages medieval events, and the world championship of medieval combat has been held here. The village below has a collegiate church and walls.

What you actually see

• The triangular plan - an unusual enceinte with a star-shaped inner ward.
• The Mudejar ceilings - carved and coffered woodwork in the halls.
• The furnished interiors - rooms refitted in the 2010 restoration.
• The medieval events - jousting and combat tournaments held on site.

When to go

April to June and September to November; the Mancha plain is extremely hot in summer. Event weekends bring crowds and can restrict normal visiting, so checking the calendar matters.

Honest expectations

Much of the interior furnishing is recent rather than historic. Event days can close parts of the castle to ordinary ticket holders. Belmonte is remote with limited services.

Nearby

The Mota del Cuervo windmills lie south; Cuenca is a hundred kilometres northeast.