Castillo de Almodovar del Río
The Castillo de Almodóvar del Río (also called Castillo de la Floresta ) is a well-preserved and extensively restored castle in Andalusia , Spain . It is located near the village of Almodóvar del Río about 24 km west of Córdoba . Guided tours are offered for visitors.
history
It was built by Arabs in the 8th century for strategic reasons and completed in the 12th century. Due to its location on a hill, it controlled a substantial section of the Guadalquivir . This is precisely why it was an important goal for the Christian troops of the Reconquista in the 13th century. And in 1362 Peter I of Castile , known as the Cruel, had the castle restored. He respected the layout of the fortress; for although the ruler fought against the Nasrid Kingdom - the last refuge of the Arabs in Andalusia - he greatly admired Arabic poetry , art and science. As Christian as he was, he let himself be called “ Sultan ” and “Arabized” his palace in Seville , the Alcázar : artificial inscriptions made of pseudo- Arabic letters and a geometric decoration that he had made by artists of the Alhambra in Granada , which he gave the Nasrid ones Rulers made available "on loan". During his reign, Almodóvar Castle received numerous donjons and a double fencing crowned by battlements; it thus preserved the peculiarities of Arab fortifications. After all, it was also Mudejars - Muslim subjects in Christian countries - who carried out the renovation work. And the mighty towers of the complex are naturally reminiscent of the fortress and the wall of the Alhambra in Granada. At the beginning of the 20th century, Spain experienced a revival of Moorish art: Just like numerous medieval castles across Europe, Almodóvar del Río was again restored.
In this castle the tragedy "El Rey Don Pedro el Cruel" was staged for the first time, of which there is also an English version ("King Peter the Cruel").
Trivia
The castle and its surroundings were sometimes used as a film location for the series production of Game of Thrones .
Web links
- Castle website (Spanish)
- Information about the visit (German)