Belmonte Castle and Alarcón – Two Medieval Gems Worth Visiting in Central Spain

Belmonte Castle

Belmonte Castle is a classic – from the exterior it’s exactly what you’d expect from a late medieval era castle. So classic in fact, that it has been the setting for many films, such as Lord of the Rings (1978), Flesh+Blood (1985), El Cid (1961) and others. The castle was originally built in the second half of the 15th century, but was never completed. It was pretty much abandoned until the mid 1800’s when restoration work was undertaken, and interestingly, the courtyard and interior of the castle were modified to the tastes of the 19th century, and therefore they look much different than the exterior. The castle is in private hands (the family that took over work on the castle in the 1800’s still owns it), and it has been open to the public since 2010.

Exterior views of Belmonte Castle.

*View of Belmonte Castle’s courtyard – as mentioned above, it doesn’t look anything like the exterior!*

You can walk around Belmonte Castle’s ramparts for some great views of the castle’s defensive features and surrounding landscape.

Castle Interior

Many of the castle’s interior rooms are open for viewing and they are worth a visit – pay particular attention to the fine woodwork detail.

Interior views of Belmonte Castle – the woodwork found on the ceilings, walls and staircases is outstanding.

Alarcón

What is most stunning about this little picture-perfect village is its setting and the drive to up to the entrance. One can imagine what it was like hundreds of years ago, and I’m guessing the view has not changed much. The main castle keep is now a parador (hotel). A Moorish fortress was constructed here in the 8th century and forms the basis for the current castle. You certainly can see how this castle was in a perfect defensive location. The town is worth at least a half-hour stroll for its magnificent buildings and setting on a steep, narrow hilltop above a meandering river (Rio Júcar) with defensive towers seen in several directions from the village. Alarcón is about 2 hours southeast of Madrid by car (188 km or 117 miles).