Bedmar new castle

Municipality: Bedmar y Garcíez

Regions: Sierra Mágina

Latitude: 37.823469°

Longitude: -3.409973°

Altitude: 680.545 m

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The town of Bedmar issituate in the zone northeast of Sierra Mágina. Until 1975 the towns of Bedmar and Garcíez were independent, however, as of that year it is considered a single region.

Historical facts

Muslim era

The origin of Bedmar goes back to thesiglo IX. During this period, the population was located in“the cave”, in arabical-Matmar. This, I knowfound attached to the rock at a height of twenty meters.

It was there that the Banu Hábil muladí family rebelled against the Emirate, creating a situation of instability thatwill last until earlyX century, when the muladí family was defeated by Abn al-Rahman III.

From the caliphal mandate, the cave was protected by a parapet and a cistern was built inside. TOturn, was integrated into the fortified complex of the upper part, by means of wall canvases, and was used as a warehouse and defensive refuge.

The Old Castle of Bedmar, called in Arabic al-Manzur, or El Mirador, isbuilt on a slope located near the town. It was built as an extension of the rocks and was equipped with a cistern. During the11th and 12th centuries, the Muslims built a wall around it, reinforced it with masonry and built a keep to protect it.

Regain

In ityear 1227 Ferdinand III conquered Bedmar. However, it soon returned to Muslim hands until finally, in1231, the castle of Bedmar was occupied by Don Martín Sánchez de Bedmar, to whom Fernando III donated Bedmar as a manor as a sign of reward for his performance.

DuringIt isthe twelfth century, lhe Christian conquerors incorporated improvements in the fortifications. Despite this, in the year 1303, Mohamad III occupied Bedmar. A few years later, in 1309, Fernando IV would carry out the siege of Algeciras, whichwould end in the signing of peace and Granada returned the castles it had taken in its offensive years before, including Bedmar.

Ferdinand IV ceded the castle to theorder of santiago, under the order to create the Commandery of Bedmar y Albanchez. This made Bedmarwould acquire of enormous strategic importance as a border land during the war with the Nasrid kingdom of Granada.

In1407 Mohamad VII staged a new assault on the castle. The Nasrids set the building on fire and killed its warden. In addition, two of his daughters were taken prisoner, one of whom ended up marrying a Moorish king.

These events showed that theold castle It was not up to the task of carrying out Bedmar"s important mission of guarding one of the main routes ofcommunication between Christian and Muslim territory.

For this reason, the fortress was abandoned, and it began,in the year 1411, under the Order of Santiago, the construction of a new castleto suit Bedmar"s defensive role. After this remodeling, several Grenadian attacks failed.

Century XVI

Bedmar was under the rule ofThe Order of Santiago until its sale in1563. Felipe II sold it to Don Alonso de la Cueva. His successor, Felipe III, would grant the title of marquisate to Don Alonso. At this time, the fortresswas already careless

20th century and present

In 1973, it was acquired by an individual who kept itin the state abandonment of the one that came centuries ago.ANDOn June 22, 1993,It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest.

In 2017, the castle passed from private hands to beingcouncil propertyfrom the town. In 2018, excavations began on the site for the first time in its history.

The castle

The New Bedmar Castle stands on the surface of an elongated rock, integrating perfectly into it.

The castle is delimited by walls that allow its defense, although the construction of towers is notit is necessary because of the location of the castle. That is why the fortress only has a cylindrical tower.

Alcazarejo

Healcazarejo It is located at the eastern end of the enclosure.Thealcazarejo entrance It is large, after crossing a small entrance, you access a sloping passage thatcarry to the dependencies of the castle, saving in this way the unevenness between the outer enclosureand the alcazarejo.

Old castle

numerous remainremains of the Old Castle of Bedmar, for example the walls of the Old Castle, which were laterlined of masonry. Attached to the rocky wall, hefind the remains of a cistern which was fed by the rain that fell on the rocky walls. In addition to this, the Old Castle also had an extensive system of caves, taking advantage of a natural cave.

Access

Currently, the castle can be accessedfree and free

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