Castle of Tiedra

The first records of its existence date back to the time of King Sancho II of Castile (11th century), who ordered El Cid to meet with his sister, the Infanta Urraca of Zamora. His mission was to persuade her to voluntarily hand over the city of Zamora without any confrontation. In exchange, Urraca would receive the town of Medina de Rioseco with the privilege of the Infantado, whose domain would extend from Villalpando to Valladolid and the castle of Tiedra. But this agreement did not take place, and Sancho II was forced to besiege Zamora.
 

Later, King Alfonso IX of León (12th century) separated from his wife Berenguela of Castile, thus he donated the aforementioned castle of Tiedra to her as compensation.
 

In 1285, Pedro Álvarez de las Asturias, who was the Senior Steward of Sancho IV of Castile, received from him the town of Tiedra with its castle and other properties.

Subsequently, it passed to Teresa Pérez de Asturias, daughter of Pedro Álvarez de las Asturias, who was married to Alfonso Téllez de Molina (son of Infante Alfonso de Molina). In this way, both the town and its castle became the property of the Téllez de Meneses. From this marriage, Tello Alfonso de Meneses was born, who became lord of Tiedra and other lordships.
 

After Tello's death in 1315, his domains passed into the hands of King Henry II. But this monarch bestowed them upon his brother Sancho of Castile, Count of Albuquerque, later inherited by his daughter Leonor of Albuquerque, wife of Infante Ferdinand of Antequera.
 

In 1430, King John II of Castile seized the town of Tiedra and imprisoned Gutiérre Álvarez de Toledo, Bishop of Palencia, in the castle. The king suspected that the bishop was betraying both him and his favourite, Álvarez de Luna, although he was eventually acquitted.
 

In the mid-15th century, John II granted both the town and the castle to Pedro Girón (Master of Calatrava), though it was not until 1476 under the reign of the Catholic Monarchs that the lordship was confirmed. Later, until the 19th century, it was owned by the Ducal House of Osuna.

The defensive complex or castle that is preserved today (a free-standing tower surrounded by a crenellated wall) occupies a platform on a hill, commanding a wide expanse of land.
 

Its oldest part is the north and west walls. Both belonged to the wall within which the first town was built. Later, the tower was constructed. From the late 13th and early 14th century are the upper machicolations, the ribbed arch vault, and the entrance to the stairs. 
 

In the existing wall, two circular tower bases are also preserved. From one end, a wall possibly housing the albacar or albacara departs, which was the fortified enclosure used as a refuge for the population in case of attack.
 

The keep is rectangular with battlements. It measures 28 m high and 11 x 9 m wide. Its walls are 2.5 m thick. It has a mixed-line mullioned window on its larger sides. The corbels where the beams supporting the wooden hoardings or parapets would go are still present. On the southeast side of the tower, an inscription can be seen: “Era of 1326,” which would indicate the date of an intervention on it. Inside, there is an underground floor in addition to the four floors (one vaulted) and a roof terrace or lookout.