Castro Ferral Castle

Published on 06/02/2017

Santa Elena (Sierra Morena)

Nature, Castles and Fortresses, Despeñaperros Natural Park

In the municipality of Santa Elena, in the very heart of the Despeñaperros Natural Park, this castle controlled the Losa or Muradal pass, the link between Andalusia and La Mancha.
Its strategic position made it one of the protagonists of the most important battle of the Reconquest, since the Christian troops occupied it barely 3 days before the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.
Sadly, this fortress of Islamic origin is now in complete ruin, after suffering great damage when a firebreak was cut in the early 1990s.

More about this place…

Of Islamic origin, the main purpose of this fortress was to control the Muradal or Losa pass, the only accessible way from the province of Jaén to the Meseta. The Almohads abandoned the castle as the Christian troops advanced, and they occupied it just three days before the famous battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. Declared a Site of Cultural Interest, its present ruined state does not reflect the historical importance of this fortress.

How to arrive

View on Google Maps