Amaiur Castle

Spain, Spain

---

Amaiur Castle, perched on Mount Gaztelu above the village of Amaiur-Maya in Navarre, Spain, emerged as a key 12th-century fortress and vital stronghold of the Kingdom of Navarre, defending against invasions with double walls and a central tower expanded through the 15th century.

It stood as the final bastion of Navarrese independence, heroically resisting Castilian forces led by Ferdinand the Catholic after the 1512 conquest, enduring sieges until its dramatic fall on July 19, 1522, when 200 defenders, including relatives of Saint Francis Xavier, capitulated following a breach by artillery and mines.

Today, the ruined site features a 1922 monument to the defenders, re-erected in 1982, alongside a modern museum displaying medieval artifacts like spearheads, coins, and the famed "Sword of Amaiur," symbolizing enduring Basque-Navarrese resistance.