Monteagudo Castle

Monteagudo Castle, locally known as Castillo de Monteagudo, lies on a rocky mountain next to the town of the same name, in the province of Murcia in Spain.

Monteagudo Castle was first mentioned in 1078-1079 when Abu Abd al-Rahman ibn Tahir. Emir of the Taifa of Murcia was dethroned and imprisoned here. The present structures however are thought to have been built by Abu ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Mardanis, nicknamed "the Wolf King", king of Murcia from 1147 until 1172. The castle had to protect the city of Murcia, together with two other fortifications nearby; Castillejo and Larache, also built by Ibn Mardanis.

In 1243 Murcia became a protectorate of Castile. Alfonso X, king of Castile from 1252 until 1284, resided in Monteagudo Castle when he was in Murcia. He donated the castle, together with Castillejo and Larache, to Violant of Aragon when they married in 1249. After some 33 years the castle went to Maria de Molina, her daughter-in-law.

In 1311 Monteagudo Castle was given to the Bishop of Cartagena by Ferdinand IV of Castile.

Up until the 16th century the castle maintained it strategic importance but after that it fell into decline. At the beginning of the 18th century its ruins were partially restored because of the War of the Spanish Succession, only to fall back to ruin shortly after.

The castle was built out of rammed earth with 2 enclosures following the shape of the mountain. In 1926 a large statue of Christ was built on top of the castle. This statue was destroyed in 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, which also destroyed part of the castle. The present statue, a replica of the first one, was placed in 1951.

At present Monteagudo Castle can not be visited. Too bad, I am very curious to see what remains inside the castle and, of course, the view over the surrounding countryside.

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