Castillo de Monfragüe

Spain, Spain

---

Castillo de Monfragüe is a 9th-century Arab fortress atop a peak in Monfragüe National Park, Cáceres province, Extremadura, Spain, built to guard Tagus River crossings during Muslim rule.

Frequently besieged and rebuilt in the 12th century after Christian conquest under Alfonso VIII, it features remnants of walls, a 15th-century keep, and a chapel brought from Palestine by crusaders, serving as a vital defense linking Extremadura and Castile until its destruction in the Peninsular War.

Restored in the late 20th century, the ruins now provide sweeping 360-degree park views ideal for birdwatching, paired with legends of wolf-friars and Moorish princesses.