Castillo de Arjonilla

Published on 03/05/2016

Arjonilla (Campiña de Jaén)

Monuments, Castles and Fortresses

Arjonilla’s Castle is from Almohad origin, It was conquered in 1244 by Fernando the 3rd’s troops. In the 13th century it passed to the Calatrava Order’s hands to refurbish it.
Above the whole castle it stands out the Homenaje tower. Square plan tower, 5 meters wide x 17 metres high. It is possible that the castle had another Homenaje tower, lost today.
However this castle is not well known for being the scene of wars and battles but rather for the famous Troubadour Macias legend, that inspired Larra or Lope de Vega among others.
Legend has it that in the Homenaje tower Troubadour Macias was a prisoner that lived and died there, because he was in love with dona Elvira.

More about this place…

The origins of this fortress go back to the 12th century, when the Almohads fortified the place by building several towers to protect it against the Christian troops. It was conquered in 1244 by Fernando the 3rd, and passed to the Calatrava Order’s hands in the 13th century. It was shaped in its current structure by the “Calatravos” who were in charge of its refurbishment. Later on, in the 17th century, the South wall was demolished in order to join it to the Marquis’ palace. As a curiosity, it is worth mentioning that the well known name of the castle is not due to wars or battles that took place among its walls, but rather to Troubadour Macias legend who was locked and killed at the Homenaje tower because of love.