Alarcón Castle

Alarcón, Spain, Spain

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Alarcón Castle in Alarcón, Cuenca province, Spain, originated as an 8th-century Muslim fortress on a limestone cliff above a sharp Júcar River bend, strategically guarding trade routes during the Emirate of Córdoba.

Conquered by Alfonso VIII in 1184 and later held by nobles like Don Juan Manuel—who restored it in the 14th century—and the Marquises of Villena, it features robust walls, five exterior towers including the Renaissance Torre del Homenaje, a triangular courtyard with cistern, and battlements blending Islamic and Gothic elements.

Now operating as a Parador luxury hotel since the 1960s, the well-preserved structure offers guests medieval immersion amid the UNESCO-recognized town's complete encircling walls.