Castillo de Oreja

Spain, Spain

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The Castillo de Oreja is a ruined medieval fortress situated on a hilltop overlooking the Tagus River in the abandoned village of Oreja (ancient Aurelia), within modern Ontígola municipality in Toledo province, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.

Originally an Arab stronghold from the 10th century, it served as a key defensive base against Christian advances, notably during the 1108 Battle of Uclés where Almoravids used it before defeating Alfonso VI's forces, and changed hands multiple times until Alfonso VII's prolonged 1139 siege forced its surrender, leading to the Fuero de Oreja charter granting privileges to repopulate the area.

Featuring a prominent rectangular tower, remnants of walls with wooden machicolations, a church, and a water tank, it was later defended by the Order of Santiago against Almohads until the border shifted south, prompting abandonment as residents moved to nearby settlements like Colmenar de Oreja. Today, the evocative ruins offer historical insight and scenic views amid a depopulated site.