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Caliphate fortress Castle of Gormaz
The impressive Moorish construction, the Caliphate fortress, is situated on the hill to the northwest of the village of Gormaz. It was built in the 9th century.
The structure has been described by historians as the largest defensive construction of the late Middle Ages in Europe. It was declared a National Monument in 1931.
This castle was the primary site of conflict between the Arab and Christian communities. Consequently, the item in question was transferred from one side to the other between the 9th and 11th centuries.
The Arab community constructed the edifice in the 9th century, and it was subsequently captured by the Christian forces in 912. Subsequently, during the Caliphate of Al-Hakem II, the city was reconquered by the Muslims. However, it was subsequently re-taken by the Christians at the end of the 10th century. Despite this, the Christians did not take control of the defensive tower definitively until 1060, with the conquest of Ferdinand I.
The castle's irregular shape is designed to fit the contours of the hill on which it is built. The length of the structure in an east-west direction is 380 metres, while the width varies from 63 metres at its widest point to 17 metres at its narrowest point, measured in a north-south direction.
The property was divided into two sections, with a moat separating them. To the east was the Alcazar, which housed the military governor, the most notable members of the army and the administration. This fortress has seven towers, one of which is the "Tower of Almanzor," which served as a keep. A cistern is also located in this area. Conversely, to the west, the fortress area was used for the accommodation of military personnel and their animals, with a pool providing water for these animals. This section features the main entrance, a double horseshoe-arched gateway of the Caliphate type, known as the Caliphate Gate.
The structure is reinforced with 26 towers, with the majority of these being substantial up to the first floor and rectangular in shape. The Muslim engineers employed ashlars made with rope and tizones and bands of tizones in the construction of the structure.
Admission to Gormaz Castle is free of charge and the castle is open 24 hours a day.