Castles and fortresses of the Serranía de Cuenca

Frontier mountains

For centuries the Serranía lay on the boundary: between Andalusi coras, administrative districts, then between Castile, Aragon and Valencia, and later between lordships. Its castles tell the story. Rochafría, above Beteta, is of Arab origin. Cañete and Huélamo also date from Islamic times, as do the 8th- or 9th-century fortifications of Cabeza de la Torre in Masegosa.

After the conquest of Cuenca in 1177, Alfonso VIII distributed fortresses: Monteagudo de las Salinas castle passed to the bishop in 1187. Moya, with five enclosures and eight gates, headed a marquisate and was an inland customs post between kingdoms, and its castle closes off the hill. There follow Cañada del Hoyo castle, on the Cerro del Buen Suceso, Cardenete, Víllora with its detached defensive tower and the Torre de Torrefuerte in Salvacañete, which came to belong to Juan Pacheco. Estates such as Torre Mijares had their own tower.

Good conduct

Almost all are ruins on a hill: view them from the ground, without climbing the walls. Cañada del Hoyo castle and Torrefuerte are privately owned.