Segura de la Sierra castle

Municipality: Segura de la Sierra

Regions: Sierra de Segura

Latitude: 38.299228°

Longitude: -2.649733°

Altitude: 1180.784 m

Video - Segura de la Sierra castle

The Castle of Segura de la Sierra has become one of its main tourist attractions. The construction offers views of several kilometers around.So much in Muslim and Christian times, it was the hegemonic center of the municipality.

History of the Castle of Segura de la Sierra

Origin

The first traces of settlers in the areathey go back to the Bronze Age. At the end of the Roman period, a new settlement was created in the area of Segura la Vieja.

Muslim era

In the year 781, Abderramán I seized the region known in Arabic as Saqura from Abu-Asuar. At this time, there was already a small fortification, in charge of protecting the Saqura farmhouse.

During In the 9th and 10th centuries, Saqura grew in importance until it became an important fortress in the 11th and 12th centuries, surrounded by a prosperous medina. In the 11th century, Segura headed a small taifa kingdom.

In the eleventh century, tAfter a period in which it alternated its own independence with belonging to the taifas of Murcia, Denia and Seville, the Almoravids annexed it to the North African empire of Yusuf ibn Tasfin.

In 1147, the Almoravids attacked the city. The resistance of the taifa led to the most fruitful stage of the Muslim Segura. The alliance of its king with the "wolf king" of Murcia allowed Segura to actively integrate into an extensive territory that stretched from Almería to the Ebro.

In the second half of the twelfth century,Ibrahim ibn Hamusk ordered the raising of lThe first large fortification of Segura de la Sierra. Subsequently, the Almohads built a new belt of walls.

sureHe faced the Almohads, who were trying to impose Muslim unity. Finally, in 1169, Segura was incorporated into their domain.

Regain

In 1214, Christians took over for the first time Safe. However, duringshort period of time, it returned to Muslim hands. Finally, in 1241, its isolated situation, surrounded by Christian territories, caused it to return to the hands of Castile.

Ferdinand III granted him the Fuero de Cuenca. Later, in 1242, he converted it into a Commandery of theorder of santiago. Three years later, Segura was established as the headquarters of the higher command of Castile.

After thePact of Jaén (1246), Segura and its territory ceased to have a key role in the reconquest, since they were far from the border with the Muslims.

Napoleonic Spain

Although the castle of Segura was abandoned in the 16th century, the people of the mountains occupied it to organize resistance against the French troops in theWar of Independence. However, Napoleonic troops managed to take over the castle.By abandoning it, They burned it down, as well as the town and the files of the Commandery of Santiago.

20th century and Present

Between the 1960s and thepresent different restorations have been taking place that have allowedenable this castleas a public space.

The castle of the Sierra

Currently, it is kept in the castle of Segura, the Torre del Agua and other parts of the walled enclosure, such as the basic structure and part of atower of large dimensions of a second enclosure.

The Alcazarejo

the basis ofl Alcazarejo is a trapezoidirregular. It is surrounded by four towers topped with battlements. One of which is the Tower of Homage.

The keep has a quadrangular base and its interior is structured in two superimposed rooms. The tower culminates in a crenellated roof.

AIn addition, the Alcazarejo has a parade ground with a cistern in the central part, on the sides there are two Arab baths, a gallery, the chapel of Santa Ana and the remains of a warehouse.

Exterior

The outer enclosure is cbuilt with fine masonry and surrounds the hill in a lower area. It identifies two cisterns dug into the rock of the rock mountain itself.

These walls are presided over by a semicircular tower and by a walkway that joins two buttresses that give the fortress the feeling of inaccessibility.The castle in turn was linked to the town through a wall that protected it.

Curiosities

The origin of the name Segura

In the 16th century, the inhabitants of the city had a curious explanation for the origin of the name of Segura: “ABefore (Segura de la Sierra) it was called Altamira, a queen came fleeing and took refuge in the fortress at the top of a very high and large slope, so much so that it seemed that nobody couldattack, then said "Here I am safe" and from here the name of Segura was taken”.