サンビセンテデラソンシエラの洞窟・トップ6

Recently restored, its tower is now accessible. A wonderful place with stunning views.

It costs nothing to go up and the horizon makes up for it. Of course, follow the path through the farm that I have followed, not the one that the Komoot says, which is wrong.

The Castillo fortaleza de San Vicente de la Sonsierra is an impressive medieval castle that rises above the River Ebro. It was built in the 12th century by the Kingdom of Navarre to defend its border with Castile. It was part of a defense line connecting Laguardia and Labastida, and was the largest fortress in Navarre on the Ebro. The castle has a semi-circular shape that adapts to the rock on which it stands. It consists of three walled areas: the albacar, where the houses of the old town stood, the cortijo, where the parish church, the chapel of San Juan and the cemetery are, and the castle itself, with the keep and the bell tower. The castle lost its military importance after the annexation of Navarre by Castile in 1512, and was later used as a quarry and rubbish dump. In the 20th century, people began to realize its historical and artistic value, and several restoration projects were carried out. The castle is now a monument of cultural interest and a tourist attraction

The panoramic view of the Rioja is wonderful. Below you can also see a medieval bridge over the Ebro.

Documented for the first time in 1367, when Enrique de Trastámara gave it to Carlos El Malo of Navarra, it is likely that it was built during the reign of Alfonso VIII to strengthen the area's defense against Navarre. It is Romanesque in style and is made up of a walled outer enclosure with a polygonal plan with seven sides. The keep, with four floors, has a square floor plan and is attached to the wall at its eastern end. The castle is located on a hill next to a meander of the Ebro river, a strategic place next to the Briones castle to protect the area from Navarrese attacks.

We have news of this population since 1093, since it appears in some deeds by which Don Lope, lord of Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa, Álava and Nájera, donated his possessions to his children, among whom was Toda, lady of Anguciana. Since the 14th century it was the Lordship of the Salcedo family, who inhabited the Torre Fuerte, of which the south entrance and some loopholes are preserved. In addition to the Torre Fuerte de los Salcedo (14th century), in the Gothic style, other places of interest in Anguciana are the church of San Martín, from the 16th century, renovated in the 17th century (two chapels in the first section, lower part of the tower, doorway and apse), the 18th century (chapel of the second section) and the 20th century (upper bodies of the tower) and the hermitages of Santa María de Oreca, from the 17th century and of La Esclavitud.

Small promontory with the remains of a tower. Very good views.

The route of the castles is perfect to spend an unforgettable day