Alpuente Castle: A Watchtower on the Frontier and a Millennia-Old Legacy

Perched atop an imposing rocky outcrop that dominates the landscape, Alpuente Castle is an open book on the medieval and modern history of the Valencian region. Its origins date back to the Caliphate period (9th–10th centuries), when it was built as an impregnable fortress of great strategic importance for controlling the area, hierarchically linked to the Castle of El Poyo in the village of El Collado.

From Independent Taifa to Royal Town

After the fall of the Caliphate in the 11th century, the town became the capital of the Al-Funt Taifa, ruled independently by four monarchs of the Banu Qasim dynasty (1030–1092), who even minted their own coins. Following tensions with El Cid—who imposed a tribute in 1089—and subsequent Almoravid and Almohad rule, the fortress passed to the Crown of Aragon in 1236 under James I.

Its strategic location at the confluence of three borders (Castile, Aragon, and Valencia) shaped its destiny:

• Medieval Period: It was a vital enclave due to the passage of a royal sheep drive. However, its border location made it a constant scene of Castilian battles and attacks.

• War of the Spanish Succession: In retaliation for supporting the Austrian candidate, Philip V ordered the castle’s destruction between 1707 and 1713.

• Carlist Wars: Occupied by Cabrera’s troops in 1835, it withstood the liberal siege, though its homes and church sustained severe damage.

Architecture and the Iconic Aljama Tower

With an elongated and irregular layout adapted to the terrain (about 200 meters long), the complex preserves remnants of its various original sections: the Citadel on the central plateau, the Albacar, the Alcazaba, and the defensive Barbican at the southern entrance, as well as sections of the wall and remains of its 14 original towers.

Among these, the Aljama Tower stands out as the former main entrance to the walled enclosure. This 16-meter-high tower features an “elbow-shaped” entrance (Porche de San Antonio). In the 16th century, a spacious L-shaped Town Hall was added to it; its Council Chamber served as the venue for meetings held by King James II in 1319 and by John I in 1383. Its upper floor housed the trading hall and served as City Hall until 2010, remaining one of the municipality’s most prized architectural and cultural treasures.