Region
This region has a higher number of fortifications: eleven castles, two strong and several lookout towers, of which there is evidence through documents, names or excavations.
The origin of these fortifications is both Arab and Christian. There is evidence, indeed, that the Defenses at Aroche are Caliphate period (tenth century), like those of the Almonaster la Real (ninth century). Both are rectangular polygonal towers of protection and reinforced masonry wall with stones in the corners. Perhaps the strength of Zufre is also of this era. In the hills of the castle of Santa Olalla, Aracena Cortegana and ceramics have also appeared Caliphate period. All these buildings were reused by caliphal Almohads. The buildings of this era have walls are of brick wall and are traveled by bands of brick and horseshoe arches with alfiz túmidos framed in vain. This can be seen in Queen's Gate Castle Aroche.
After the Christian reconquest time comes clashes with Portugal. When the Castilians took the form here, called by some historians, La Banda Gallega. This fulfilled three purposes: defense against the Portuguese, to avoid the claims of the military orders (Hospital, Temple and James) to take over these territories, and, finally, to protect the new settlers.
In this way, the council of Seville asked Sancho IV El Bravo few privileges to defend its administrative district, which the King granted in the town of Toro in 1293. Thus, it sent up a triple line of defense, reusing as far as possible the old walls, as follows:
* Aroche Encinasola and Fregenal.
* Torres (Cumbres de San Bartolomé), Cortegana and Cumbres Mayores.
* Aracena, Cala and Santa Olalla de Cala.
The castles that are sent to those of Sancho IV Mayores, Cala, Encinasola, Torres and Cumbres San Bartolome . The others are reconstructions or repairs of Muslim strongholds.
Other studies believe that the defense was otherwise, along the Roman roads of penetration from the Alentejo to the city of Seville. So the first line of defense would be the Guadiana River as a natural border, the strengths of Encinasola, Cumbres and Santa Olalla for the way from Moura and Elvas; Aroche Aracena Cortegana and to defend the road Beja and Serpa. And both lines would be connected by Torres to the west and east Zufre and linked with the Castillo de las Guardas (Sevilla).
The passage of time has not been benevolent to the castles of the Sierra. During the fourteenth century are given different uses of these defenses but with the advent of peace in 1402 are left. Not until another period of border conflict during the Civil War in the seventeenth century Portuguese military engineers as when J.B. Corbachino and R. Medici, attempt to recover these strongholds, while the strong rise Encinasola, being abandoned all over again 1668.
The functions of the castle since mountain has been very diverse: the Santa Olalla functioned as cemetery from seventeenth century until 1916, with the stones of the wall of the fortress of Almonaster rose from the Bullring (1891), Cala's served as stables for livestock until recently, Aroche's is a bullring, and in Aracena's one are in ruins.
The origin of these fortifications is both Arab and Christian. There is evidence, indeed, that the Defenses at Aroche are Caliphate period (tenth century), like those of the Almonaster la Real (ninth century). Both are rectangular polygonal towers of protection and reinforced masonry wall with stones in the corners. Perhaps the strength of Zufre is also of this era. In the hills of the castle of Santa Olalla, Aracena Cortegana and ceramics have also appeared Caliphate period. All these buildings were reused by caliphal Almohads. The buildings of this era have walls are of brick wall and are traveled by bands of brick and horseshoe arches with alfiz túmidos framed in vain. This can be seen in Queen's Gate Castle Aroche.
After the Christian reconquest time comes clashes with Portugal. When the Castilians took the form here, called by some historians, La Banda Gallega. This fulfilled three purposes: defense against the Portuguese, to avoid the claims of the military orders (Hospital, Temple and James) to take over these territories, and, finally, to protect the new settlers.
In this way, the council of Seville asked Sancho IV El Bravo few privileges to defend its administrative district, which the King granted in the town of Toro in 1293. Thus, it sent up a triple line of defense, reusing as far as possible the old walls, as follows:
* Aroche Encinasola and Fregenal.
* Torres (Cumbres de San Bartolomé), Cortegana and Cumbres Mayores.
* Aracena, Cala and Santa Olalla de Cala.
The castles that are sent to those of Sancho IV Mayores, Cala, Encinasola, Torres and Cumbres San Bartolome . The others are reconstructions or repairs of Muslim strongholds.
Other studies believe that the defense was otherwise, along the Roman roads of penetration from the Alentejo to the city of Seville. So the first line of defense would be the Guadiana River as a natural border, the strengths of Encinasola, Cumbres and Santa Olalla for the way from Moura and Elvas; Aroche Aracena Cortegana and to defend the road Beja and Serpa. And both lines would be connected by Torres to the west and east Zufre and linked with the Castillo de las Guardas (Sevilla).
The passage of time has not been benevolent to the castles of the Sierra. During the fourteenth century are given different uses of these defenses but with the advent of peace in 1402 are left. Not until another period of border conflict during the Civil War in the seventeenth century Portuguese military engineers as when J.B. Corbachino and R. Medici, attempt to recover these strongholds, while the strong rise Encinasola, being abandoned all over again 1668.
The functions of the castle since mountain has been very diverse: the Santa Olalla functioned as cemetery from seventeenth century until 1916, with the stones of the wall of the fortress of Almonaster rose from the Bullring (1891), Cala's served as stables for livestock until recently, Aroche's is a bullring, and in Aracena's one are in ruins.
