Fortaleza de A Mota

Spain, Spain

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Fortaleza de A Mota is a medieval defensive fortress located in Allariz, Ourense province, Galicia, northwestern Spain, perched on a hill overlooking the strategically important Arnoia River valley.

Dating primarily to the 13th-14th centuries with earlier 8th-century origins as a Moorish stronghold, it served as a key frontier bastion during the Reconquista, resisting until captured by Castile's Alfonso XI in 1341 and later rebuilt with multiple defensive walls, towers, and communal structures including houses, palaces, and a church revealing rock-cut graves.

Now an archaeological site with low ruins evoking daily medieval life amid trades like winemaking, it stands as a testament to border conflicts between Christian kingdoms and Nasrid Granada, offering visitors panoramic views in its rural setting.