Loarre Castle - Zaragoza, Spain

The history:  Loarre Castle, a Cultural Heritage Siter and National Monument since 1906, was built in the 11th century. It is the most outstanding example of peninsular fortfications and the  Romasque building that has survived to date is in superb condition. It represents one of the best examples of military and civil architecture in Europe.

" The most important Romansque fortress in Alto Aargon and Spain is the castle-abbey of Loarre" Ricardo del Arco

The discovery of Roman and Iberian coins in the vicinity  of the castle has led to the belief that the castle was built on top of the ruins of the Roman site of "Calagurris Fiblariensis"

King Sancho 111 el Mayor de Navarra decided to build the castle in 1020, annexing it to his kingdom and turning it into the bastion of his defense against Muslim powers.  It is not until the reign of Sancho Ramirez, around the year 1071, that fortfication work is begun, along with its current configuration, and a religious component is added with the foundation of the monastery for ther Augustinian friars.

Upon the death of Sancho Ramirez, his son Pedro 1 builds Monteargon, the principal house of the order of St Augustine, thereby relieving Loarre of the monastic, purpose, whereas the subsequent loss of its use as a line of defence would follow on as a result of such monarch advancing in his conquest of the region, with the castle reverting to the Crown of Aargon, which hands it over to lietenants and officers of senior rank.

From the 12th century onwards Loarre begins to go into decline, albeit with the exception of occasional episodes in the history of the Aargonese Crown when it still intervenes. It ceases to be involved in the 15th century, and this has contributed to its original state being well preserved, turning it into an attractive setting for the cinema.

Loarre Castle

Zaragoza, Spain