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Castle · Cañada del Hoyo

Cañada del Hoyo castle

Cañada del Hoyo castle, or Buen Suceso castle, stands on the Hurtado de Mendoza hill. It began as a watchtower to detect approaching enemies and became a castle after Alfonso VIII's definitive conquest of Cuenca, as part of the defensive line between Castile and Valencia. It retains walls, a keep and an octagonal tower. It is privately owned.

Towers and walls of Cañada del Hoyo castle
Cañada del Hoyo castle, in 2007. Photo: «Castillo Canada del Hoyo», Retama (2007) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Municipality
Cañada del Hoyo
  • Castle
  • Buen Suceso
  • Hurtado de Mendoza
  • Cañada del Hoyo
  • Frontier

A watchtower on the frontier

The castle stands on Cerro del Buen Suceso, also called the Hurtado de Mendoza hill, above Cañada del Hoyo. It began as a watchtower to see who approached the village, becoming a castle after Alfonso VIII conquered Cuenca. It formed part of a defensive line between Castile and Valencia.

What remains

It is shaped like a prow. It retains the walls, keep and an octagonal tower entered from the courtyard. The Marquis of Cañete and later the Marquis of Villena altered it.

Plan your visit

Before you travel

It is privately owned: view it from outside.

Combine with

The lakes of Cañada del Hoyo nearby and PR-CU 88, a short-distance trail starting at the castle.

Frequently asked questions

What survives?

The walls, keep and an octagonal tower entered from the courtyard. The castle is shaped like a ship's prow.

Can it be visited?

It is privately owned, according to Descubre Cuenca; consult the town hall before approaching.

Carry on from here

Lands and landscapes

From here, follow the memory of the land

These readings connect Cañada del Hoyo castle with the stories, the work and the villages around it.

Where it is

Location of Cañada del Hoyo castle ArguisuelasBuenache de la SierraCampillos-SierraCañada del HoyoCañeteCarboneras de GuadazaónCardeneteLa CiervaCuencaFuentesMonteagudo de las SalinasOlmeda del ReyPajarónPajaroncilloPalomeraReílloValdemorillo de la SierraValdemoro-SierraVillar del HumoValdetórtolaLas ValerasArcas PR-CU 20: Ruta de los CastillosPR-CU 21: Ruta de la fuente de MarimingoPR-CU 35: Sendero de Los CeñosPR-CU 36: Sendero de la hoz del HuécarPR-CU 51: Sendero de las FuentesPR-CU 83: Sendero de las LagunasPR-CU 87: Sendero de la Cañada Real de los ChorrosPR-CU 88: Sendero de la Colada del Barranco de la Palancosa Cañada del Hoyo
In colour, the municipality. The place does not yet have a verified location, so no point is drawn. Municipal boundaries: © IGN (CC BY 4.0). Route lines: simplified official tracks; source and GPX on each page.
Where the data on this page come from
Name
Municipality (INE code)

«Source consulted»: the primary source has been read. «Reference located»: the source has been identified but not yet read. «Open question»: the figure needs confirmation.