Loarre Castle

The Loarre Castle is located in the town of the same name, in the province of Huesca. It was built in the 11th century and is one of the best-preserved constructions of its kind in Spain. In 1906, it was declared a National Monument and currently holds the status of Asset of Cultural Interest.

It is believed that the castle was built on a Roman settlement. It was Sancho III who ordered its construction in the 11th century as a border control post, on a rocky spur at 1071 metres altitude. Its current shape was acquired during the reign of Sancho Ramírez, incorporating a church. From its position, it controlled the Hoya de Huesca plain and, in particular, the Bolea, which was the main Muslim settlement in the area, a centre of important agrarian control. The wall dates back to the late 13th century, and once the Christian kingdoms expanded, it lost its military function.

The wall covers approximately 10,000 m² and has a perimeter of 172 m. The turrets are semicircular except for the entrance one, which is rectangular. Above the crypt is the Church of San Pedro, a Romanesque construction with a single nave and semicircular apse. Its columns attached to the walls stand out for their capitals with vegetative and fantastical motifs. In the right wing of the construction were the lodgings of the nobles and canons, in addition to the dungeons.

It has been a space used by film, television, and literature on numerous occasions. The series "El Ministerio del Tiempo" has used it in its 4 seasons. Also, in 2006, part of the famous film "Kingdom of Heaven", directed by Ridley Scott and starring Orlando Bloom and Eva Green, was filmed here.