In Spain, so beloved by tourists all over the world, there is a unique place - the town of Alarcón, province of Cuenca. It is here that the unique castle of the same name is located.
History
In the city of Alarcón, a castle rises on a high cliff. The waters of the Khukar River wash its walls from three sides. During the Spanish Reconquista, he defended the borders of Castilla. The river in this place is meandering, abruptly leaving in steep cliffs. Its dark waters hold the secrets of this place. According to one of the versions, the castle and the city received their name from the name of King Alaric II, but this information cannot be considered reliable.
In the 8th century, Muhammad el-Feri lived here, who fought against the rulers of Cordoba. A century later, Alarcon "sheltered" Umar-ibn-Hafsun, who fought against the Umayyads. The object gained strategic importance during the Reconquista. After all, from here opened the way to Valencia and Murcia. For this reason, Alfonso VIII decided to conquer Alarcon. This was in the XII century.
The fortress was besieged for many months and only at the very end of the 12th century did Alarcon surrender. Its walls were additionally fortified so that the Arabs could not capture it again. The number of townspeople in Alarcon and the surrounding area began to increase. Over time, a set of laws was formed, and in the middle of the XIII century, the city came under the jurisdiction of Cuenca.
In the XIII century, the castle entered the form in which we can see it today. External changes have since been minor. The Order of Santiago, which was given power over the city, received the right to levy a tax on the land. Over time, more and more surrounding lands gradually ceded to the city. The then aristocrats of Spain tried to challenge the right of the rulers of the city of Alarcón to own the city and the castle.
Alarcón Castle is associated with such names as Don Juan Manuel (medieval Spanish writer, warrior and politician), Constance (daughter of King Jaime II the Just). After the death of Constance, Alarcón passed to the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago, Juan Pacheco. A great deal of power was concentrated in his hands.
The geographical location of the castle
A unique view of the entire ancient structure opens from the top of Alarcon. The main tower of the building is especially visible. The defensive wall of the castle, like no other part of it, has come down to our times in its original form. This is a real monument of the Middle Ages. But, despite the fact that it is completely fortified in the most reliable way, its inaccessibility is due to its location. Surrounded by a natural deep moat on three sides, and on the fourth by a natural ravine, Alarcón is inaccessible to outsiders.
The town is a little isolated, thanks to which the atmosphere here is calm and quiet. The rocky soil does not allow local residents to engage in agriculture. Only vineyards grow well in such an area. How a castle could have arisen in such a place is a mystery. After all, it took incredible efforts to build it on a rock - time, money, and how many people died here cannot be counted.
Once in Alarcon, you begin to involuntarily feel how ancient these walls are. The ruins of the walls of the fortress, towers, bas-reliefs have survived to our times. It is impossible to take your eyes off such ancient places.
What awaits tourists
What could be more romantic than a time spent in the castle? But it is quite possible to become a guest of the most real medieval fortress for a few days. In Spain, the castles that receive guests and give them shelter are called paradors. In addition to castles and fortresses, any object can become a parador - a monastery, a palace of historical value. At the moment, there are about a hundred of them in the country, and their number is growing, as the demand for such hotels is growing.
Cat lovers will be pleasantly surprised, because there are so many of these animals in the city of Alarcón that, walking along the streets, you constantly come across them. Almost all of them are tame and willingly communicate with tourists. It is possible to use a car rental to visit all places of the city. But this is usually done by those who come here for one day. Still, you need to explore these places slowly in order to remember all the small details of ancient fragments of history.
Arriving in Alarcón, you should definitely try the local cuisine. The dishes of the medieval restaurant are prepared according to recipes that have been preserved since ancient times. Especially popular are dishes from partridge with lentils, fish dishes (trout, pike - are found in the reservoir), steak made from venison with cheese-nut sauce. The restaurant is unusually good.
On hot days, guests of the castle can drink a cold beer or a cup of coffee right in the courtyard. Having become the owner of the keys that open the secret door, you can go up to the defensive floor. Here, on the very roof of the castle, there are loopholes. The view from such a height is unforgettable. The river, meandering and dark, the sky, deep and blue, the sun, hot and close - this is what will appear to your eyes. The city of Alarcon is home to about 170 people, and one of them is a Russian woman. These are the locals. A school has been opened for children with only two teachers.
Parador de Alarcon Hotel
Alarcon can be visited with a guided tour, or you can stay here for a few days. The only thing to consider is the cost of living. It is somewhat more expensive than a room in a regular hotel. The cost of a daily stay in Alarcon depends on the season and the workload of the castle.
The hotel itself is built into the fortress in such a way that the integrity of the historical site is not violated either visually or physically. The ancient walls have been preserved in their original form. But, having settled in the room, be prepared for a "surprise". To look out the window, you have to crawl a little, because the thickness of the old walls surprises everyone with its scale. However, when you get the chance to look outside, your gaze will have a stunning view: blue Spanish skies, dark green river and hills ... Absolute immersion in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. The main thing is not to forget what age it is. All furniture in the rooms is wooden, stylized in the style of the Middle Ages.
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Alarcón Castle became open to guests after the 2003 reconstruction. The fortress welcomed the visitors with its appearance restored by the best architects. The Parador de Alarcon hotel has opened here. This national parador is still in effect. The territory of the fortress has everything you need for a comfortable stay. For guests there is a free car parking, there is a laundry, a beautiful garden. Climbing the tower, you can admire the amazing views that open to the eyes of everyone who enters here.
Check-in rules are not much different from the standard rules in most hotels in Spain. Check-in starts at 14:00, departure from 8:00 to 12:00. The cost of the room must be specified in advance, but on average it is 150 euros. Small children under 2 years old stay free of charge. For them, simply put an extra bed in the room with adults. The medieval fortress of Alarcon is one of the most important tourist sites in Spain.
