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Castillo de Belmonte

Castles & palaces ·Belmonte ·Closed
4.610.6K
#1Things to do in Belmonte Province of Cuenca Castile La ManchaMost reviewed in Belmonte
  • Visit: 45–90 min
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About

Castillo de Belmonte (Belmonte Castle) is a medieval fortress and palace on San Cristóbal hill, at Belmonte’s eastern edge in Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain.

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Castillo de Belmonte

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Why go

  • The chapel’s Mudéjar ceiling with muqarnas.
  • A fortress laid out as a six-pointed star.
  • An optional visit to Trebuchet Park, with more than 40 full-size siege machines.

Opening hours

Today10:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00Show all
MondayClosed
Tuesday10:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Wednesday10:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Thursday10:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Friday10:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Saturday10:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Sunday10:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00

Don't miss

  • Chapel, or ambassadors’ hallExamine the muqarnas decoration on its Mudéjar ceiling and the 59 figures carved across two windows.Chapel (ambassadors’ hall)
  • Eugenia de Montijo’s roomsSee the 19th-century rooms that belonged to the empress of France, a descendant of the marquis of Villena.Castle interior

Know before you go

  • Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–19:00.
  • Animals are not allowed in the castle grounds, except small animals kept in a bag or carrier throughout the visit.

What's inside

  • The museum route takes in the wall walk among the battlements and towers, the keep, parade ground and dungeon.
  • Displays cover 15th-century life and the Castilian succession war between Juana «La Beltraneja» and Isabel «la Católica».
  • A 12-minute large-format film introduces the route. Light and sound effects create a historical experience during the visit.

Tips for your visit

  • Allow around 1–1½ hours for the independent castle route; a faster visit can take about 45 minutes.
  • Trebuchet Park can be added as a combined visit.

Interesting facts3

1/3
  1. 22 metres

    The castle has six corner towers, each about 22 metres high.

    Castillo de Belmonte - Wikipedia

  2. The surrounding artillery barrier has firing points on two levels and three bastions.

    Castillo de Belmonte - Wikipedia

  3. Its three gates are Puerta del Campo, Puerta de la Villa and Puerta de los Peregrinos.

    Castillo de Belmonte - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Built for Juan Pacheco, first marquis of Villena, the castle later became a retreat for French Dominican friars and an academy for the Francoist Frente de Juventudes.

  1. 1455–c. 1468Juan Pacheco, first marquis of Villena, commissioned the castle. Hanequín de Bruselas and Juan Guas are both associated with its construction.
  2. After Juan PachecoHis son Diego López de Pacheco partly continued the work, then largely neglected the fortress.
  3. 1488The Catholic Monarchs stayed at the castle on 12 August.
  4. 17th–early 19th c.The fortress was largely abandoned in the 17th and 18th centuries and nearly in ruins by the early 19th century.
  5. 13 November 1811French forces executed tío Camuñas at the castle walls.
Show all
  1. 1857–1870Eugenia de Montijo commissioned Alejandro Sureda to restore the castle. The project ended with the fall of the Second French Empire.
  2. 1943Architect Baselgas restored the castle, and a rural academy was installed there.
  3. Summer 2010After rehabilitation, the castle opened to visitors.

Photo spots

  • North towerLook out over Belmonte and its landmarks.North tower On the map

Tours and audio guides

Cultural visit audio guide
Free audio guide for your phone, available in Spanish, English, French and Italian.
Theatrical visit
Episodes from the castle’s history, featuring Don Juan Pacheco and Eugenia de Montijo.
Maestro de Armas guided visit
Explore the history of siege engines, ending with a live demonstration launching a projectile weighing more than 30 kg.

Sources: Castle of Belmonte (Cuenca) - Wikipedia · Home - Wordpress · Visita teatralizada - Wordpress · Visita Libre Audioguiada - Wordpress · Castillo de Belmonte - Wikipedia · Castillo de Belmonte - Wikipedia · Château de Belmonte - Wikipedia · checked 11 Oct 2026

Where
Calle de Eugenia de Montijo s/n, Belmonte

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

What is the address of Castillo de Belmonte?

Calle de Eugenia de Montijo s/n, Belmonte, Cuenca.

Who owns Castillo de Belmonte?

The Dukes of Peñaranda, descendants of the Dukes of Alba and Eugenia de Montijo.

Is Castillo de Belmonte a protected monument?

It was declared a historic monument in 1931 and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

Was Castillo de Belmonte ever a prison?

Napoleonic forces used the castle as a prison during their invasion of Spain.

Did restoration continue after Castillo de Belmonte reopened in 2010?

Yes. A second rehabilitation phase was completed in 2017.

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