Mayorga Castle

En un regard

Le château en bref

Mayorga Castle is a ruined fortress perched on a steep hill in the Sierra de San Pedro, some twelve kilometres south of San Vicente de Alcántara, close to the Portuguese border. From the 13th century it was a commandery of the Order of Alcántara and, together with Piedrabuena, Azagala and Alburquerque, formed a network of strongholds guarding the area between the Tagus and the Guadiana. Its layout follows the contours of the terrain and has been substantially altered by successive building campaigns. Built of rubble stone and brick, it retains sections of curtain wall, a gateway facing east, a rectangular tower to the south and the remains of the keep, with openings and traces of incised render. Ravaged by Portuguese troops in the 17th century, it has appeared on the Red List of Hispania Nostra since 2013 because of its progressive collapse.