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Condition: It was declared a National Monument on the 6th of August of 1895. Under the protection of the decree of 22 April 1949, and the Law 16/85 on the Spanish Heritage.Iin the year 1993 the Junta de Andalusia gave it the deserved special recognition as Castle belonging to the autonomous community of Andalusia. Actually it is in a good state because it was restored by the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía, under the supervision of the architect don Rafael Herrera Castillón. Actual use: The Castle of Cumbres Mayores has been used as a football field, taking advantage of the large size of its weaponground. However, and in the process of the current restoration, it is foreseen to create an Interpretation Center of the Territory in it, with the intention to establish, coordinate and enhance research, extension and restoration of historical heritage in the territory of the Sierra of Huelva. The said Interpretation Center would consist of a series of areas especially the Visitors Center, the Center for Studies and Research and the Department of Cultural Activities and Auditorium. Architectural sheet:
There are a total of three doors or openings to the place : the principal in the southwest corner, is escorted by two towers linked by a pointed Gothic arch, together with a Matacán (1). Above the arch is a bas relief representing the patron saint of the town, the Archangel Michael, as well as a Latin Cross. The two lower doors or sally (2) are placed facing Portugal and the other located toward the east, known as the Puerta del Sol, for the relief carving on the pointed arch of the entrance, which represents the sun and moon. The walls are made with masonry and reinforced at the corners. Some of these blocks are of Roman times, as it was typical of this period to employ present materials (3) for new buildings. They have a height of ten meters and a thickness of approximately three meters. Above them is a spacious walk round, reachable thanks to the stairs that are fused with the wall. The main gate is covered with a half barrel vault (4), somewhat pointed and built with small granite blocks, the only arch created entirely in stone in the territory of the Sierra of Huelva. The other two doors are covered by half barrel vaults slightly pointed.
Inside, the ground has been used in past decades by farming and ranching and from 1980 until the beginning of 2000 as a football field. The most complete restoration was made by the end of the twentieth century, specifically in 1999, involving the cleaning of wall fronts, with appropriate methods, replacing parts that were missing or had been lost by using stone instead, and disarming and replacing merlons with some in brick looking and feeling much like the original. With regard to the stonework, stones (6) and blocks (7) were replaced, and also the bad places were reinforced with mortar and the cracks were anchored with steel brackets to ensure its stability. The access to the Castle was repaired, highlighting the demolition of a more recent access, correction of alignment in the front of the bullring, as well as repair of all the pavement with cobblestones and flagstones. Also the tiling of the round was improved with stones from the area. At the end of the different interventions a study was carried out by the Provincial Delegation of Culture of the Junta de Andalusia in Huelva, to determine the final purpose of this monument.
In this regard, there have been two new projects started, aimed at creating an Interpretation Center of the Territory, divided into three departments: the Visitor Center, the Center for Research and the Department of Cultural Activities and Auditorium. (1) Matacán. Cantilever construction above a door or wall or fortified tower supported by large brackets. It is a defense element of Islamic origin widely used in Islamic fortifications built on the peninsula under Muslim domination. (2) Sally. Secret door or door of less importance of a fortification. (3) "acarreo" Materials : The materials reused in other buildings, because of shortage of components for new construction. This practice was common in those periods. (4) Middle Canyon: vault caused by displacement of a half pointed arch along a longitudinal axis. (5) Merlons: part of the wall and of high prismatic shape, which lies between two battlements. (6) Masonry: factory of bricks made with little stones, unworked or worked, without an order or size unified by gypsum or lime. (7) Blocks. Stones in parallelepiped form that is used in construction. Historical sheet: The birth of the fortress of Cumbres Mayores is attributed to Sancho IV, but the site may be put there because previously there was some kind of construction of Roman origin present, as demonstrated by the blocks reused in the construction of the wall, and written sources that attribute it the name of 'Julia Concordia Nertrobiga' population that was united with Aroche by a Roman road, although there is also the assumption that it was destroyed during the V century. It seems that prior to this date the village of Cumbres Mayores stood somewhat northeast of the current one(settlement Auseré-Hermitage Sta Maria Magdalena), being destroyed in battles with the Portuguese during the second half of the thirteenth century, reason why it was moved to the location where it is today. The Castle of Cumbres Mayores appears together with the figure of Sancho IV, when signing the document authorizing the construction of the strengths of Cumbres Mayores, Santa Olalla, Aroche and Fregenal de la Sierra. After the conquest of Cumbres 'Altas'(as it was also known), it is engaged in the eternal war with Portugal, which will run throughout the centuries. First by the 'Question of the Algarve', which is nothing but the struggle for control of territory and the creation of a border, and then by the independence of Portugal after the claiming of Philip II of his right to the throne of Portugal. These new fortifications generated around it a population that sought refuge because of the increase in banditry in the area. This strengthened the Castle and its surroundings. After the arrival of peace with Portugal and the loss of its functionality, the Castle of Sancho IV The Brave, with the years will fill up with houses on its perimeter, built from its own materials. This leads to an intervention and modification of its structures, and prevents the overall vision of the building, which is not the case for Aracena or Cortegana. Unfortunately, in 1893 the state tried to sell it, despite the denial of the City Council. At the end the sale of the property is declared invalid, and two years later it was declared a National Monument. Currently, the City administers it and ensures its conservation. Arts and Culture:
Cultural Events: There are two groups of dancers, the first one is the Brotherhood of our Lady of Hope, dating back to 1629, the second one being the Brotherhood of the Holy Sacrament, of 1729. Both dance on street or procession music and others are decorative. Referring to festivals, in spring stand out the Holy Week, May Crosses and Corpus Christi. In June the festival of the Pinetrees, in August the one of the Jugs, and celebrations of Our Lady of Grace, ending in September with the celebration of Our Lady of Amparo and the 'Candelorios' of San Miguel. |
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Its perimeter is irregular and consists of nine sides. The towers are a total of nine, four cubic and on the most strategical places are also four other with semicircular shape. And finally the Tower of Homage with its forked typology.
Different authors, like A. J.Morales, speak of two construction phases: a first round of foundation, dated 1293 and a second phase, during the fifteenth century, in which some reforms are made, strengthening the merlons (5), also join the upper chambers of the towers that represent the main entrance. The walled enclosure is in good condition after successive restorations in the years 1973 and the latest in 1999 . 
Moreover, in its interior is a tombstone with an inscription citing the following: This Castle is built by the city of Seville, giving privilege for its construction king Don Sancho IV The Brave, in Toro dated 3 November 1293. The so-called Castle of Sancho IV will become one of the most important castles, along with Encinasola, of the 'Banda Gallega', and built, as all included in it, for the protection of Seville, against the interests of Portuguese expansion. 