Puerta de las Eras in Cañete: the caliphate's detached gate-tower

Puerta de las Eras

Puerta de las Eras is a detached defensive gate-tower from the Caliphate of Córdoba, around 12 by 8 metres in plan, with a bent passage, barrel vault and portcullis. It opened Cañete's wall to the west, towards Teruel and Albarracín. The province's best example of this defensive type, it is now embedded in modern buildings.

The main gate

It was Cañete’s main entrance in Muslim times. It opened west towards the River Mayor plain and the old Teruel and Albarracín road through Cañigral, perhaps a Roman road and later a major medieval route. It dates from the Caliphate of Córdoba; its builder is unknown.

A tower separate from the wall

It is a torre albarrana, a detached defensive tower built apart from the wall so it could hold out even if adjoining walls fell. It measures around 12 by 8 metres in plan; once between 16 and 20 high, it now stands just over 12 with its top lost. The passage turns a corner, beneath a barrel vault, with horseshoe arches, paired gates and a portcullis that rose and fell. A stair within the wall led to the guardroom and wall-walk. In front, the wall changes direction to allow flanking attacks on anyone approaching the arch. Later the inner horseshoe arch was replaced by a wider segmental arch.

It has been compared with the Alhambra’s Puerta de la Justicia, later and more accomplished.

Today

It has become wedged between modern buildings, and entry to the walled enclosure is now through a gap opened beside it.

Plan your visit

Combine with

The other gates: San Bartolomé and La Virgen.

Frequently asked questions

What is distinctive about it?

It is a detached defensive gate-tower around 12 by 8 metres, with a bent passage beneath a barrel vault, horseshoe arches, paired gates and a lifting portcullis. It is considered the province's finest example of this type of defence.

What is it like today?

Embedded in modern buildings, with the outer entrance almost invisible, and partly restored, including reconstruction of some horseshoe arches. It has suffered dereliction, material looting and aggressive development over the past two centuries.

Where it is