Torres de Oeste: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 42°40′36″N 8°43′33″W / 42.6766°N 8.72577°W / 42.6766; -8.72577
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[[File:1500-Torres do Oeste-Catoira (Pontevedra).jpg|thumb|alt=Torres de Oeste Castle|Ruins of one of the towers, with a chapel in the front.|250x250px]]
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'''Oeste Towers''' ([[Galician language|Galician]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Torres de Oeste'') is a [[castle]] in [[Catoira]], [[Galicia, Spain]]. It is located at the head of the [[Ría de Arousa]]. It is in the region of Caldas ([[Pontevedra]]), in the river [[Ulla River|Ulla]] estuary. The towers remaining today are the ruins of Castellum Honesti. Torres del Oeste has been declared a national monument.
== Torres del Oeste Castle ==
The Castle –Torres del Oeste in [[Catoira]], [[Spain]] is located at the end of the Ría de Arousa. It is the region of Caldas (Pontevedra), in the river Ulla estuary. This Castle has free entrance and it is in ruins now. Anyway this Castle has been declared National Monument.


In the 9th century, King [[Alfonso III of Leon]] built the castle as a defense against [[Viking]] attacks. The two remaining towers are from this period, and have a pre-Roman style. Pre-Roman ceramics and bronze tools have been discovered at the site. Two centuries later, King [[Alfonso V of Leon]] donates the fortress to the bishopric of Iria-Compostela, held at that moment by bishop Vestruarius. Subsequent bishops Cresconio, [[Diego Peláez (bishop)|Diego Peláez]] and Diego Gelmirez undertook the commitment to strengthen the Castle in order to protect the holy site of [[Santiago de Compostela]]. The structure of the Castle was defined in the 12th century. At that time, the enclosure of the Castle was formed by seven towers, and it was surrounded by marshes. The Castle has a 12th-century chapel built by Gelmirez to honor the apostle [[James the Just|Saint James]]. The Castellum Honesti began its decline in the 15th century.
The conserved towers have a pre-Roman style, and this has been proved thanks to the old remains of ceramics and bronze tools found here. Due to the Romans arrival, the Castellum Honesti is built and the settlement is becoming a large Roman port.
In the 9th century, the King Alfonso III began building the Castle trying to prevent Viking attacks. Two centuries after, Gelmírez was appointed the governor of the fortress by the King Alfonso V. His commitment was to strengthen the Castle to protect Santiago de Compostela. The structure of the Castle was defined in the 12th century. At that time, the enclosure of the Castle was formed by seven towers, and it was surrounded by marshes. The Castle has a 12th century chapel built by Gelmirez to honour apostle Saint James. From the 15th century on, the Castellum Honesti began its decadence.


Each summer, the first Sunday of August, there is a celebration that recalls the Viking invasion.
Each summer, the first Sunday of August, a celebration recalls the repulse of a Viking invasion.<ref>Simonis, Damien, et al. (2005). ''Spain'', p. 553. Lonely Planet. {{ISBN|1-74059-700-1}}.</ref>

[http://www.turismoriasbaixas.com Turismo Rías Baixas]
== See also ==
[[category:Castles in Spain]]
* [[Vikings in Iberia]]
[[gl:Castelo Torres do Oeste]]

[[es:Castillo Torres del Oeste]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.turismoriasbaixas.com Turismo Rías Baixas]
{{Commonscat}}
{{coord|42.6766|N|8.72577|W|source:kolossus-glwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Castles in Galicia (Spain)]]
[[Category:Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in the Province of Pontevedra]]

Latest revision as of 00:32, 15 January 2024

Torres de Oeste Castle
Ruins of one of the towers, with a chapel in the front.

Oeste Towers (Galician and Spanish: Torres de Oeste) is a castle in Catoira, Galicia, Spain. It is located at the head of the Ría de Arousa. It is in the region of Caldas (Pontevedra), in the river Ulla estuary. The towers remaining today are the ruins of Castellum Honesti. Torres del Oeste has been declared a national monument.

In the 9th century, King Alfonso III of Leon built the castle as a defense against Viking attacks. The two remaining towers are from this period, and have a pre-Roman style. Pre-Roman ceramics and bronze tools have been discovered at the site. Two centuries later, King Alfonso V of Leon donates the fortress to the bishopric of Iria-Compostela, held at that moment by bishop Vestruarius. Subsequent bishops Cresconio, Diego Peláez and Diego Gelmirez undertook the commitment to strengthen the Castle in order to protect the holy site of Santiago de Compostela. The structure of the Castle was defined in the 12th century. At that time, the enclosure of the Castle was formed by seven towers, and it was surrounded by marshes. The Castle has a 12th-century chapel built by Gelmirez to honor the apostle Saint James. The Castellum Honesti began its decline in the 15th century.

Each summer, the first Sunday of August, a celebration recalls the repulse of a Viking invasion.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Simonis, Damien, et al. (2005). Spain, p. 553. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74059-700-1.

External links[edit]

42°40′36″N 8°43′33″W / 42.6766°N 8.72577°W / 42.6766; -8.72577