Castle of Castro Ferral

Monument

Puerto del Muradal. 23213, Santa Elena How to get

The castle played a major role in guarding the pass known as Paso de la Losa, one of the medieval routes that connected the Guadalquivir Valley and the Meseta (the plateau of Castile). Currently some remains of the fortress located in the heart of the Despeñaperros Natural Park are still standing in the midst of a rich ecological environment that lovers of nature and hiking find very attractive. The remains of the castle are very close to the Navas de Tolosa battleground and a museum dedicated to the battle.

The only access to the castle of Castro Ferral is a forest track that starts in the hamlet of Miranda del Rey (in Santa Elena). The itinerary is easy to follow and passes through beautiful scenery. It is little wonder you are in the heart of Despeñaperros Pass, in Sierra Morena, one of four Nature Parks in Jaén province. The area stands out for its rich ecological environment and also for its important cultural heritage. In fact, after visiting the fortress, we recommend taking the opportunity of the journey to discover other places of special interest, such as Los Órganos, where you can observe more than fifteen panels of rock paintings listed as World Heritage by the UNESCO, the sanctuary of Collado de los Jardines and the Cueva de los Muñecos (Dolls Cave), where numerous bronze Iberian votive offerings were found. Next to the ruins of the castle you will also find the original layout of the Via AugustaRoman road.

Located on the summit of the Muradel pass, the castle’s importance lasted for as long as it served as a watchtower and guardian of one of the routes between the Guadalquivir Valley and the plains of La Mancha. Built by the Arabs, one of the castle’s three enclosures can be now be visited: the rectangular bailey, where the remains of what may have been cisterns can be seen. Only a few remains of the second enclosure still exists, like the two bastions that seem to protect the entrance to the castle, whereas the defensive line that formed the third bastion can hardly be traced.

The castle was the scene of some of the armed conflicts that preceded the Battle of Navas de Tolosa and were decisive for the final outcome. Ferral was an essential target for any army that sought to control the border pass. In fact, it was one of the strategic points from which the conquest of the Upper Guadalquivir was started. When the borders were moved to the Baetic Cordillera, further south, Castro Ferral lost its relevance as a lookout. Moreover, its decline was precipitated when nearby towns such as Santa Elena were founded. In the end, it was torn down, partly to prevent it from becoming a lair for bandits.