Castle of Almodóvar del Río

The Castle of Almodóvar del Río, also known as the Castle of the Floresta, is a charming Andalusian fortress with a lot of history within its walls. It stands on a mound called "El Redondo" in this Cordoban town, on the right bank of the Guadalquivir River.

Thanks to the restoration initiated by Rafael Desmassières and Fariña -XII Count of Torralva- in 1901, we see a dreamlike castle that preserves its medieval essence. Due to its idyllic image, it has even been chosen for filming, such as in the successful series Game of Thrones. Specifically, it was the setting for the Kingdom of House Tyrell, Highgarden.

The origin of the Castle of Almodóvar del Río is Muslim, from the year 760, built on a Roman castro. It has witnessed various events throughout history. In the Muslim era, it was a key place to defend Córdoba and its territory. In 1240, it became Christian dominion under the reign of Ferdinand III. In the time of Kings Peter I and Henry II (14th century), it became a royal residence. It was expanded and used as a prison by King Peter I, where he also guarded his treasures. Later it belonged to the Order of Calatrava and the Order of Santiago, successively. In 1629, King Philip IV sold the castle to Don Francisco del Corral y Guzmán, a knight of said Order of Santiago.

Today, its image corresponds to several construction periods, between the 10th, 12th, 13th and especially the 14th century with the Gothic-Mudejar towers. In addition to the restoration carried out at the beginning of the 20th century, by architect Adolfo Fernández Casanova at the initiative of the aforementioned XII Count of Torralva.

The castle has an irregular rectangular plan, with a wall and nine battlemented towers. The Keep stands out, which is separate from the enclosure but is connected by an arch. Around the Parade Ground, the different rooms are arranged. 

Since 2001, the Castle of Almodóvar del Río has been owned by the XI Marquis of La Motilla, Miguel Ángel de Solís y Martínez Campos. Its interior is rehabilitated and curated, with a display of medieval armour and weapons, projections of the history of the castle and its owners.

There is also a collection of sword replicas to admire, during the walk through the towers at the top. Among these swords, the replica of Excalibur of King Arthur stands out. You can visit the dungeons, which served to represent those of Casterly Rock in the series Game of Thrones. Not forgetting the amazing viewpoint, which was also filmed for this series. During the tour you can see different shots from this filming, with the help of a special map.

The castle can also be discovered through guided and theatricalised tours. Furthermore, it hosts other activities, such as event celebrations, school visits, and medieval lunches.