The castle of Peñafiel in Valladolid, Spain, is one of the typical examples of these medieval fortresses as it is situated on the top of a solitary hill, its double wall with 30 towers silhouetted against the blue sky, from which the 34-metre high central silhouette of the keep seems to rise upwards.
It was originally one of the castles on the dividing line of the Duero river, whose roots go back to the time when Christians and Muslims fought wars near the river. As the border between the two sides was located in the vicinity for many years, castles proliferated in what are now the provinces of Soria, Burgos, Valladolid and Segovia. Specifically, in the case of Peñafiel, its origins date back to the 10th century, although its current appearance dates from a reconstruction in the 15th century, after several violent episodes, as in all castles of the period.
It is very elongated, 211 metres long by 23 metres wide, with even thinner ends resembling a ship. Built in Romanesque style, there is documentary evidence of it from the year 943. Four decades later it was taken by Almanzor and it was King Sancho García who reconquered
it in the 11th century, also starring in the legend that gave the castle its current name (until then it was known as Peña Falcón) when he exclaimed from its battlements: From today this will be the most faithful rock in Castile! ("¡Desde hoy ésta será la peña más fiel de Castilla!")
Since then, the place has been the scene of historical vicissitudes, resisting sieges during the Castilian dynastic struggles and passing from hand to hand: Alfonso the Battler, Ferdinand III, Alfonso X the Wise, the Infante Don Juan Manuel (yes, the famous author of Count Lucanor), etc.
Since then, Peñafiel Castle has undergone several alterations. In 1917 it was declared a National Monument and in 1999 it was restored to active use, not for military objectives, of course, but to house the Provincial Wine Museum. Located in the south wing, its aim is to take a journey through the history and culture of this drink, showing the production techniques of the wines with Designation of Origin of the province: Ribera del Duero, Tierra de León, Cigales, Toro and Rueda.
It was originally one of the castles on the dividing line of the Duero river, whose roots go back to the time when Christians and Muslims fought wars near the river. As the border between the two sides was located in the vicinity for many years, castles proliferated in what are now the provinces of Soria, Burgos, Valladolid and Segovia. Specifically, in the case of Peñafiel, its origins date back to the 10th century, although its current appearance dates from a reconstruction in the 15th century, after several violent episodes, as in all castles of the period.
It is very elongated, 211 metres long by 23 metres wide, with even thinner ends resembling a ship. Built in Romanesque style, there is documentary evidence of it from the year 943. Four decades later it was taken by Almanzor and it was King Sancho García who reconquered
it in the 11th century, also starring in the legend that gave the castle its current name (until then it was known as Peña Falcón) when he exclaimed from its battlements: From today this will be the most faithful rock in Castile! ("¡Desde hoy ésta será la peña más fiel de Castilla!")
Since then, the place has been the scene of historical vicissitudes, resisting sieges during the Castilian dynastic struggles and passing from hand to hand: Alfonso the Battler, Ferdinand III, Alfonso X the Wise, the Infante Don Juan Manuel (yes, the famous author of Count Lucanor), etc.
Since then, Peñafiel Castle has undergone several alterations. In 1917 it was declared a National Monument and in 1999 it was restored to active use, not for military objectives, of course, but to house the Provincial Wine Museum. Located in the south wing, its aim is to take a journey through the history and culture of this drink, showing the production techniques of the wines with Designation of Origin of the province: Ribera del Duero, Tierra de León, Cigales, Toro and Rueda.
