Torre del Homenaje de la Fortaleza de Briones

The Torre del Homenaje de la Fortaleza de Briones is the main preserved remains of the ancient castle or medieval fortress of Briones, in La Rioja, located in the upper part of the town, on the hill overlooking the Ebro valley. The resource is identified today as a tower and the rest of the wall, in a state of consolidated ruin, with access by means of metallic stairs and an upper viewpoint. The construction is usually dated in the 13th century, in the context of the medieval fortification of the town after the Christian consolidation of the area in the 11th century. The set responds to a medieval military architecture, built with masonry and ashlars, and only three sections of the keep and part of the walled enclosure remain. Among the outstanding heritage elements are the remains of the trapezoidal tower, the associated walls and the openings preserved in some walls, testimony of the original defensive organization. The fortress was part of the ancient defensive system of Briones and today is one of the visible historical landmarks of the town. Its exact location in Briones, La Rioja, coincides with the historic surroundings of the old town, declared a Historic-Artistic Site, which reinforces its value as a key part of the local heritage landscape and as a watchtower over the banks of the Ebro.