Castle of Caldaloba: A Medieval Fortress in Galicia
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 3.8
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- Spain
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Unclassified
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page8 sections
History
Castle of Caldaloba is a medieval-origin fortress in Spain, located in the parish of Pino in the municipality of Cospeito, Lugo, Galicia. Also known as the Tower of Caldaloba or Castle of Vilaxoán, it occupied a strategically defended position overlooking a natural passage between the Vilalba area and the Támoga and Miño rivers.
The Siege of Caldaloba
Costanza de Castro and her husband, Fernán Ares de Saavedra, resisted Diego López de Haro’s siege at the tower for 11 months. Their defence forms the central episode in the recorded history of the fortress.
Later History and Protection
A manor house near the fortress was founded in 1621 by Rodrigo Díaz Sanjurjo y Montenegro. The Castle of Caldaloba was declared a Property of Cultural Interest on 17 October 1994, a major Spanish heritage-protection designation for sites recognized for historical or cultural value. It was added to the Heritage Red List in 2017.
In July 2022, the Provincial Council of Lugo announced the purchase of the parcel containing the best-preserved part of the fortress and stated its intention to acquire the entire property.
Remains
The fortress stands in A Balura, in the Terra Chá, on the hill of Coto de Mato. Its defensive layout uses a large castro, a fortified settlement protected by earthworks and enclosures, together with a principal tower, steep ground, and deep ditches. The keep is built beneath rock that falls sharply to the east, while the ditches strengthen the southwest and northwest sides.
Defensive Setting and Structures
The Keep
The keep, the castle’s principal fortified tower and strongest defensive and residential structure, is built of masonry made from small slate stones. Dressed granite forms the openings and corners. Its walls average 3 metres in thickness, and the tower reaches a maximum height of 25 metres.
The Ditches
Four large ditches surround the fortified settlement. The ditches average between 8 and 10 metres in depth and reach a maximum width of 6 metres. Together with the abrupt eastern rock face, they reinforce the natural and constructed defences of the site.
The Caldaloba Manor House
The Caldaloba manor house lies a few hundred metres from the fortress. Founded in 1621, it forms a separate nearby element of the historic site.
