Castillo de Nogalte: A Medieval Fortress in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain

Visitor Information

Google Rating: 3.8

Popularity: Low

Google Maps: View on Google Maps

Country: Spain

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

Castillo de Nogalte is a fortress constructed by the Islamic civilization during the Middle Ages, situated in the town of Puerto Lumbreras, Spain. Its position on a mountainous spur provided control over key water sources and paths connecting important cities such as Lorca, Murcia, Granada, and Almería.

Archaeological discoveries show that this site was first settled during the Bronze Age. Ceramic fragments linked to the Argárico culture, notably from the nearby settlement of Barranco de las Cuevas, indicate human presence long before the castle’s construction. However, the surviving ruins mainly belong to the Islamic period, dating back to the early 13th century. During this time, the Muslim Kingdom of Murcia saw the establishment of many small rural castles aimed at protecting farming estates. The oldest part of Castillo de Nogalte likely served as a fortified granary, reflecting the agricultural priorities of the era.

Following the Christian conquest of the region, the fortress underwent a second phase of use. Significant changes included the addition of a lower enclosure and alterations to the original upper section. These modifications were carried out using building techniques aligned with standards decreed by Alfonso X of Castile in 1261. Historical records reveal that Don Juan García de Villamayor, a royal official under Alfonso X, became the castle’s first Christian owner through a royal grant. The orientation of the castle’s towers toward the north and west during this period reveals concerns about defending against threats from the Nasrid Kingdom, which controlled nearby territories to the south.

From the 18th century onward, the hill around the castle was reshaped by the construction of cave houses carved into the rock. These troglodyte dwellings housed modest families and contributed to the distinctive appearance of the site. This form of habitation is among the region’s most notable examples of rupestrian, or rock-based, living and adds an important layer to the history of human occupation at Nogalte.

Remains

The fortress of Castillo de Nogalte consists of two main enclosed areas connected by a bent, or angled, gate, all surrounded by walls made of rammed earth, a construction method where soil is compacted to form sturdy barriers. The upper enclosure represents the earliest phase, dating to the Islamic period of the early 13th century. It covers roughly 1,000 square meters in a polygonal shape about 60 meters long and 18 meters wide. Access is gained through the east side by a passage that turns sharply to prevent a straightforward entry, a defensive feature common in medieval fortifications.

Inside this upper enclosure, archaeologists have uncovered at least three adjoining rectangular rooms. These rooms contained multiple millstones, whose presence strongly suggests that they functioned as storage and processing areas for grain. Central to water management on the site is a large cistern, or aljibe, measuring approximately 12.5 by 2.8 meters. Made from rammed concrete and coated with hydraulic mortar, this water reservoir was vital for supporting the fortress’s inhabitants and preserving stored grain during sieges or dry periods.

The lower enclosure, which dates to the Christian period after the conquest, has been partially excavated and includes northern, eastern, and southern sections of its rammed earth walls. Within these walls, a network of earth-built structures forms a complex of connected rectangular rooms. During this Christian phase, the upper enclosure was modified by adding a tower and reinforcing existing walls to improve defense. Notably, the passage linking the two enclosures is designed with a series of parallel walls forming a triple bend, known as a triple codo, which would have complicated direct access to the inner sections.

Towers added during the Christian modifications are strategically positioned facing north and west, aligning with defensive worries about potential attacks from the Nasrid Kingdom to the south. The walls and towers reflect the military architecture typical of the period under Alfonso X’s influence.

On the hill surrounding the castle, the cave houses carved into the rock date from the 18th century onward. These rock-cut homes, or troglodyte dwellings, embody an important aspect of local architectural heritage, illustrating how families adapted modestly to their environment. Several of these caves have been restored and preserved as notable examples of this distinctive form of habitation.

Today, the remains of Castillo de Nogalte include both the restored medieval fortress with its characteristic rammed earth walls and towers, as well as the rehabilitated troglodyte homes. Together, these features showcase the site’s long and varied history of human settlement and defense.