オルミリャの洞窟・トップ3

From the Briones castle there is a spectacular view of the Ebro River and the surrounding vineyards and, in the background, the limestone ridges of the Alava mountains.

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.

It is the typical castle-fortress raised on a hill, an old memory of the early medieval rock castle, with a defensive function.

Nice abandoned castle in La Rioja