Eznavexor

Eznavexor Castle is one of the most unique fortresses in the south of Campo de Montiel and one of the places that best allows us to understand the defensive organization of the territory in the Andalusian period.

It stands in the municipality of Villamanrique, on a flat-topped hill of the so-called Torres Strait, dominating the Guadale Valleyny the natural passes that connected this area with Andalusia.

Its location, protected by rocky cliffs on several sides and open to the gentler approaches from the north and east, explains very well its strategic value and the landscape strength it still retains.

In Its origin was an Islamic hisn, a fortress conceived not only for defense, but also for the control and articulation of the territory, supported by a network of farmhouses and surveillance points in its surroundings.

Following the Christian conquest of 1213 moved to Order of Santiago, And for a time, sources also mention him as Santiago or Sant Yagüe.

However, In the mid-13th century, it lost prominence to the nearby Montizón castle., beginning a process of decline that meant that centuries later it appeared as a ruined place linked to livestock farming.

This evolution makes Eznavexor a particularly interesting enclave for understanding the transition from the Andalusian military landscape to the new Christian feudal order.

From an architectural point of view, Eznavexor allows one to recognize a rectangular fortress, built with a combination of stone, masonry and concreted rammed earth, in which several construction phases are documented.

Among its most notable elements are the flanking towers and the presence of a barbican tower, an exceptional feature among the fortifications studied in the region.

Also of great interest is the study of its construction systems, with stone plinths, high-quality rammed earth walls and internal wooden reinforcements, which demonstrate a remarkable technical knowledge of Andalusian military architecture.

Added to this is an environment very rich in quarries, stone outcrops and livestock areas, which helps to understand both the construction of the castle and its later uses.