Caliphate-era Castle of Castilnovo in Spain on sale

It is arguably the most expensive castle on the market in Spain. Buying this property will cost you a lot, really a lot - millions of euros. But before you judge the price as too high for an ancient piece of architecture, consider its majestic history.

Historians and architects can't say anything definitive about the castle's origins. They remain obscure, covered with dust and sand blown in by hot Iberian winds. Some attribute the castle’s foundation to Abd al-Rahman I, the founder and first emir of the Emirate of Córdoba. That would date it back to the 8th century.

Others disagree, claiming that the castle was most likely built by Almanzor, a Muslim Arab Andalusian military leader who ruled Islamic Iberia in the 10th century. However, no archaeological remains from that time have been found. But isn't it impressive already? For starters, eh?

Initially built in the Toledan-Mudejar style, the castle was rebuilt in the 12th century after the Christian Reconquest by the Crown of Castile. It was also given a name: Castel Nuovo, or Castilnovo.

Due to numerous renovations, the castle’s current appearance bears little resemblance to its Caliphate-era looks. Centuries have layered various architectural styles onto the original Arab fortress.

Over time, the fortress gradually transformed into a palace that showcases a beautiful blend of ashlar stone, Mudejar bricks, and calicanto, or rubble masonry. Built on a square plan, it features six imposing towers.

Three of the towers are cylindrical, and three are rectangular. Each tower has its own name. The towers feature cozy balconies and windows, some of which are framed with alfiz and ajimez and boast horseshoe, ogee, or pointed arches.

Inside, there are several museum rooms with portraits and paintings on the walls. There is also a kitchen, a library with a collection of swords, and a conference hall with modern art.

Ivy grows on the castle walls, and the property itself is surrounded by dense vegetation and a beautiful park with benches and trails that require a little attention and care.

Now, imagine the people who walked the corridors, danced in the halls, and slept in the chambers of this medieval fortress and palace. The castle used to receive nobles and dignitaries who played a crucial role in Spanish and European history. Priceless!

King Ferdinand I of Aragon and his wife, Queen Eleanor of Alburquerque; King Ferdinand the Catholic; and Queen Joanna "the Mad," whose sad life story was beautifully told by director Vicente Aranda in Mad Love.

The French Dauphin and the Duke of Orléans—the future King Henry II of France—was briefly held hostage in the castle. There were countless counts, countesses, and marquesses.

By the mid-19th century, the castle was owned by a German prince who sold it in 1859 to José Galofré, the chamberlain and secretary to Queen Isabella II. Galofré renovated the castle according to 19th-century aesthetic trends.

The Marquises of Quintanar, grandees of Spain, inherited the castle from Galofré and modified the structure by adding a Segovian rural-style wing in the 20th century.

In June 1931, the Castle of Castilnovo was declared a Site of Cultural Interest. In the 1980s, the Marquises of Quintanar sold the castle, which was later expanded with a large hall and a Spanish-Mexican library.

Located near the villages of Villafranca and Valdesaz, which have a combined population of 50, the castle is an ideal hideaway from the hustle and bustle of a big city. The estate will also give its owner a lot of privacy.