| Belmonte is a fortified village at the foot of a magnificent 15th
Century castle, in the region of Spain where Don Quixote chased his windmills.
The imposing outer walls with their great doors served as protection
for this the native town of the poet Luis de Léon.
In the village you will find, a 15th century collegiate church whose
chapels are well worth the visit, especially for their stunning collection
of reredos from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
It was Henri IV who gave the town to Juan Pacheco, the Marquis of Villena
in 1456 .
The castle was erected in the 15th century, on top of a hill in order
to protect the Marquis's domain.
Hexagonal in shape, the castle is flanked with two rows of round towers.
You can climb the towers to enjoy the wonderful view of the valley and
the village below.
Remodeled by its former owner, the triangular patio is accessible by
taking the large wooden staircases from the upper floors of the castle.
Beautiful ceilings, painted in "artesonados" style enliven
its large empty rooms..
Unfortunately, the furniture is no longer on display.
The window frames in the reception room are a fine example of the mudéjar
style.
Though it has been abandoned since the 19th century, Belmonte
castle is surprisingly well preserved. It is one of the lesser visited
monuments that you can enjoy in relative peace. |
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