Marquis de los Vélez Castle

Marquis de los Vélez Castle, locally known as Castillo del Marqués de los Vélez, lies in the center of the town of Cuevas del Almanzora in the province of Almería in Spain.

The first fortification at this site was probably an Arab defensive watchtower, dating back to the late 13th or early 14th century.

Marquis de los Vélez Castle was built in the first half of the 16th century by Don Pedro Fajardo y Chacón, 1st Marquess of Los Vélez. Shortly before he also built Vélez-Blanco Castle, in which he resided, and around the same time Mula Castle in Murcia.

The castle has an irregular rectangular layout and inside its walls are a former Palace of the Marquis and a keep. This keep probably incorporated the older Arab tower.

Inside there is also a 'Casa de la Tercia', which is a fortified warehouse where taxes were collected and stored. This warehouse was built in the 18th century in neoclassical style. Later it was also used as a prison.

Nowadays the different buildings inside the restored castle house a museum, the library and a police station.

At present Marquis de los Vélez Castle is freely accessible during opening hours. Sadly enough the museum and the library were closed when I visited. A very nice castle with an Arab feel to it.

Gallery