THE CASTLE AND ITS SURROUNDING OLD TOWN “LA VILLA”

The Castle in Aguilar de la Frontera can be regarded as one of the most remarkable ones during the period known as Al-Andalus and later Kingdom of Castile. Moreover, it has been popular for the beauty of its buildings.

There were several settlements since the Roman period up to the Christian one and the formers called it as IPAGRO. But during the muslism age Ipagro was named as POLEY. Poley was also the name of a very important battle which took place at the time between Abdallan and Ben-Hafsun dated back in the year 890 B.C.

During the Christian period the town was owned by the king Fernando III and his son Alfonso X who handed the village over the portuguese Yáñez Dovinal for his great service to the king.  Yáñez  Dovinal decided to name the village as AGUILAR in honour of his mother's surname ÁGUIA. This was also the reason for the eagle found in the coat of arms. Dovinal was the first lineage of Aguilar. But after a period ruled by some of the Dovinal's lords and with no offspring except for a young boy, the village of Aguilar was given back again to the crown.

During this period (1350), the crown was ruled by Pedro I “El Cruel” who handed the power over Alfonso Fernández Coronel. But Alfonso supported Enrique II de Trastámara, who was the illegitimate brother of Pedro I, to the throne. For this reason, Pedro I was very upset and started an important historic event known as the Battle of Aguilar. He then changed the village's name to Monterreal. Alfonso Fernández Coronel was killed in this battle by Pedro I in 1353 and the village was given again back to the crown. 

After several battles, Enrique II kills Pedro I in Montiel and ascends the throne in 1369. Enrique II transfers the village to the family Fernández de Córdoba in 1370. They were a very remarkable lineage in the state and the name of Monterreal is changed to Aguilar. They rebuilt the castle which was ruined by the attacks of Pedro I “The Cruel”.

Finally, Alfonso Fernández de Córdoba was the 10th and most remarkable lord for the village of Aguilar.




Our visit to the castle will focus on the following points:

• (PUBLIC) GRANARY: (Pósito)
• “THE VILLAGE”: La Villa
• PANORAMIC VIEW: Vistas panorámicas.
• ALONSO DE AGUILAR: Familia Fernández de Córdoba
• DEFENDING WALL:  “FALSABRAGA”
• STONE-MASON / STONE-CARVER MARKS : Marcas de cantero sobre las piedras.
• BAILEY: “Patio de armas”
• MAIN TOWER:  “DEL HOMENAJE”
• BACK DOOR AND ENTRANCE: “POTERNA Y ENTRADA EN RECODO”
• THE XIII CENTURY
• TOWER “LA CADENA”: TORRE DE LA CADENA
• SOUTH-EAST TOWER: TORRE DEL SURESTE