Paterno Castle: A Roman-Origin Fortress in Spain
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Spain
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Classical, Medieval
- Civilizations
- Roman
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
History
Paterno Castle, also known as the Castle of Albaladejo, is a fortress in Albaladejo, Spain, with Roman origins. The Arabs later conquered the site, which was rebuilt in the thirteenth century as part of the medieval fortifications of the region.
Medieval Control and Preservation
The castle belonged to the Order of Santiago, a medieval Catholic military order that held territory and defended Christian settlements in the Iberian Peninsula. The order worked to maintain the fortress during its period of control.
Paterno Castle is protected under the generic heritage declaration established by the Decree of 22 April 1949 and under Law 16/1985 on Spanish Historical Heritage. The fortress was small and rectangular, with a central area that has not survived. Two towers remain, both in a ruined and deteriorating condition.
