Castle · Víllora
Víllora castle and its watchtower
Víllora castle, of Arab origin and dating from the 12th century, presides over the village and appears on its coat of arms alongside pines and the San Martín and Cabriel rivers. In February 1840, during the Carlist wars, Arnau set it alight as he fled. Víllora was a lordship from 1443, when it paid 1,730 maravedís, and a marquisate until 1811.
- Municipality
- Víllora
- Víllora castle
- Carlist wars
- Lordship
- Cabriel
- Detached defensive tower
The castle
Víllora’s castle is of Arab origin, from the 12th century, and presides over the village. In February 1840, during the Carlist War, the leader Arnau set it alight as he fled. It appears on the village’s recent coat of arms with pines, the castle and water from the San Martín and Cabriel.
The lordship
In 1443 Víllora bought lordship status for 1,730 maravedís, and its first lord, Pedro de Zúñiga, resettled it. In 1719 the Count of Salvatierra sold the lordship to Eugenio and José de Zúñiga for 120,000 reales. In 1783 Marquis Tomás Bellanguer was allowed to sell perpetual tenures to residents of the municipality’s northern half. In 1874 someone bought land in Víllora, Yémeda, Enguídanos and Las Majadas, selling it to residents in 1897 for 60,000 pesetas: tenants became owners.
Plan your visit
Combine with
Chorreras del Cabriel and the Hoces viewpoint.
Frequently asked questions
When was the castle burnt?
In February 1840, during the Carlist wars, by Arnau as he fled.
Who were Víllora's lords?
Víllora gained lordship status in 1443 after paying 1,730 maravedís; its first lord was Pedro de Zúñiga, Count of Ledesma and Plasencia. The marquisate ended in 1811 when Marquis Tomás Bellanguer died without descendants.
Carry on from here
Lands and landscapes
From here, follow the memory of the land
These readings connect Víllora castle and its watchtower with the stories, the work and the villages around it.
Where it is
Where the data on this page come from
- Municipality (INE code)
- Ayuntamiento de Víllora: historia local, castillo sobre la población source consulted, 9 October 2026
- Village
- Ayuntamiento de Víllora: historia local, castillo sobre la población source consulted, 9 October 2026
«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.