Frías Castle

The Castillo de Frías is a rock fortress located in Frías, Burgos, on the crag of La Muela, dominating the passage of the Ebro and the Tobalina valley. It is a defensive castle integrated into the medieval system of control of access to the city and the strategic environment of the river and roads in the area. Its oldest preserved remains date from the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, although most of what is visible corresponds to the fifteenth century; the set also presents contributions from the sixteenth and earlier centuries. For this reason, its current construction is a mixture of medieval and modern construction phases, with a predominance of the military character typical of Castilian architecture. Among its outstanding heritage elements are the keep, the walled enclosure, the windows with Romanesque capitals and the access system by means of a drawbridge and defensive gate. The keep stands on a rock separated from the rest of the complex, a unique feature that reinforces its status as a rock castle. The castle was part of the high defenses of the medieval city, along with other elements of the hill, and maintained military use for centuries. Today it is a heritage asset of great scenic and historical value, closely linked to the monumental image of Frías.