Download guideContact
 |
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Condition: The passing of time has affected notably its original state and made it obvious that the Junta de Andalucía needed to finance a restoration project. Nevertheless, it is protected by the decree of 22 April 1949, and the Law 16/85 on the Spanish Heritage. Further, in the year 1993 the Junta de Andalusia gave it the deserved special recognition as Castle belonging to the autonomous community of Andalusia. Actual use: Nowadays, the castle is used for carrying out concerts, theater and other cultural activities. Architectural sheet: The floorplan is polygonal, having several sides, shaped like a triangle with the hypotenuse on a curve. Specifically ten wallfronts between defensive towers.
The towers: they are a square, one of which is used as a buttress. A very important point is that it does not preserve the merlones that shaped the battlements. Most of the towers are divided into sections and this may result that the height is slightly lower. In total there are are nine towers, standing out between 4 and 5 meters outside the wall. The highest of these towers are at the three angles and had to have chambers at the level of the round, but only the east angle keeps this chamber, whose plan is square, is covered with a half barrel vault, and loopholes in the three free sides. Its perimeter is approximately 273 meters. Perhaps one of the most monumental ones of the province, next to the Cumbres Mayores and Santa Olalla del Cala and about 98 meters in length in the direction Southeast-Northwest. The walls: the wall fronts are built from adobe, some walls are masonry and stone. The elevation is about 10 meters high in some areas, though slightly decreasing in height in other areas. And its thickness is 1.50 meters thick.
Access: The main gate, now called the Queen's Gate, was the original entry, but has been redone so that it becomes impossible to determine is basic structure, although the fact that it is crowned by two arches, exterior and interior of pointed horseshoe, joined by a barrel vault and also pointed, as well as an alfiz cutting the trasdós of the arch and passing over the key, gives us some indication of its original appearance. Today it is blinded. There is another entry that it is currently formed by a half pointed arch of bricks, and at the top of the arch is a construction that apparently was made in the seventeenth century. To the left of the entrance there are some remnants of the primitive organization, especially a ship covered by a continuous barrel vault. There are also documents that put a door to the left of the current one, around the 17th-18th century. The functionality of these buildings has always been very controversial. This building has had and has several uses, municipal archaeological museum, relay of stallions, sports training center, home of the Information Point of the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park . But one fact to consider is that in 1802 the bullring was built, which is still in use. Actually and in compliance with Article 11.2 of the said Spanish Historical Heritage Act, the buildings declared as BIC are obliged to have defined their protective environment and in conjunction with Article 29.2 of Law 1 / 1991 of 3 July, Heritage of Andalusia, in which is expressed textually: the surroundings of the property declared of cultural interest may be formed both by the immediate adjacent properties or by non-adjacent or distant ones, always when a modification of these could affect the value of the property in question related to its contemplation, appreciation and assessment'. These areas are delimited and some plans are made to protect them from future actions that may endanger their physical integrity and correct display, given its current state. The fact is that on February 23, 2001 a third of one of its towers collapsed. For this reason a report was conducted for the realisation of some emergency work.
Historical sheet: According to the only excavation carried out inside the castle, its origin is Almohad, particularly the 11-12th centuries. In the following centuries ongoing reforms were made, by Almohads and Almoravids, to improve its defensive character. These people of Berber origin were very good in constructive development in the entire area, not just in Aroche, but also in neighboring towns. It was a warrior caste, military armies, great strategists, who reached the terrain that now belongs to the province of Huelva, first the Almoravids in the eleventh Century and subsequently in the twelfth century Almohades, who made great cultural contributions, leaving their footprint in the book of History of Huelva and its Castles.
After the capture of the region by the Christians, in the thirteenth century the fortification will be integrated ed as part of the first line of defense system of the "Banda Gallega. His immediate aim was militar, but also played a role in repopulation. The history of the Castle of Aroche is attached to the figure of Sancho IV (1293), as many of the fortifications of the area. The activity of this king in what is now the site of the Natural Park was extensive. In this case he began the restoration, by order of the council of Seville, taking advantage of remains of the old Muslim fortress, in order to face the new threat, the border dispute with Portugal. However, the southwest side of the door seems to be of a later period, undoubtedly opened because of reforms in the military field. In 1386 at a cost of 15,000 maravedíes we know, from documentary sources that are preserved, that in this year works and alterations to the property took place. Currently, due to the restoration and reform of the Castle, it was given a new function as Information Point of the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park. Something worthy to comment is that it currently contains a bullring built in the year 1802. Continued reforms that the monument has endured from the past are reflected in notarial acts, in which the different activities are reflected. There is a documented reference for important work performed in 1386 at a cost of 15,000 maravedíes, which perhaps can be related to the construction of the earlier mentioned door
There is also evidence that in 1454 40,000 maravedíes were paid to Ruy Diaz de Cuadros, warden of the castle, that he had spent on repairs and works and between 1459 and 1466 36,000 maravedíes were spent on works on the fortress. Finally, between 1518 and 1519 154,140 maravedíes were paid to the Warden for works. In addition, other sources say that the Castle of Aroche was looted during the years 1641 to 1642. The substantial loss of revetment, either due to erosion caused by wind, the pigeons nesting in the walls or the freezing of water that is kept inside the crack, that makes the stone break, makes its condition in need of interventions for restoration. A work of restoration, as deserved by any building declared of Cultural Interest, was commissioned, for a total of 267,206.06 euros, following the theories of intervention in the current Heritage. Arts and Culture:
In relation to the basketwork these can be found made from cereal straw, wicker and enea. There are amazing screens, bedheads, armchairs, sofas, lamps, etc.. In terms of pottery, only decorative objects are left as are plates, mugs, and bowls, among others. Also exist other craft work such as harnesses for horses and woodwork. The festive activity to stand out is the Pilrimage of San Mames. Another very attractive one is the Holy Week because of its colorfulness and charm. In the summer the highlight is the August Fair and in September the Livestock Fair, originating in medieval times. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
.
