Mascaraque Castle

Mascaraque Castle, locally known as Castillo de Mascaraque or Castillo Juan de Padilla, lies in the center of the town of the same name, in the province of Toledo in Spain.

Mascaraque Castle was built during the 14th century, probably on the site of an Arab predecessor. It served as a link between the, much stronger and more important, nearby castles of Almonacid de Toledo and Peñas Negras. In the 16th century it belonged to the Padilla family who renovated it in 1518. It is not certain if this was just a local family or the family of the 16th century Juan de Padilla, the missionary who explored North America. Later the castle went to the Dukes of Abrantes.

It is a rectangular castle and a mix of a castle and a palace. Originally it was equipped with a moat and 2 drawbridges which have now disappeared. It has curious 5-pointed stars above several doors.

At present Mascaraque Castle is private property and its interior can thus not be visited. When I visited it looked like it was uninhabited and locked down, too bad. A nice castle.

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