Monfragüe Castle
At the top of the mountain range that crosses the national park, we find this fantastic viewpoint.
Open map Torrejón el Rubio (Cáceres), España
The scenery from the top of the tower is magnificent and intoxicating.
Monfragüe National Park is one of the tourist icons of Extremadura. And within the park itself, beyond the contemplation of birds, there are places that we can not miss. And one of them is the Castle of Monfragüe. There really is not much left of this fortress, but so little matters much, since for tourists its greatest value is the scenery. Only a couple of towers remain standing (which we can climb) and from where we can see the entire park. When we go up we will find ourselves at the highest point of the crest of the mountain range and I can guarantee that the views are exceptional and it will be well worth the climb.
Ascent to the hermitage
The ascent to the castle is tiring and obligatory at the same time. We can leave the car in the first parking lot or climb with him to the last parking lot (provided that the few places that are not occupied to leave the car). From here begins a large staircase (perfectly conditioned) to climb to the top. But when you get there, you will not only find the remains of the castle but also a small chapel where the residents of Torrejón el Rubio make pilgrimages and pray to the Virgin of Monfragüe. As a curiosity, you should know that this is a very old figure that was brought from Palestine by crusader knights. This chapel is also one of the symbols of the park and enjoy the wonderful views of the park from the top.
The castle
It is an Arab construction (from the 9th century) intended to defend the passage across the Tagus River. When they arrived in these lands, the Arabs named it "the abyss" (Al-Monfrag) and built the fortress over ancient Celtic ruins. Later, after the reconquest, it would pass into Christian hands. Of all that, only the remains of the wall, a barbican, an Arab cistern and two towers (which seem to have nothing to do with each other). Both towers have been restored and are accessible to any tourist, becoming wonderful watchtowers for the contemplation of the park.