Would anyone care to talk about their favorite castles, especially those in Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Castilla y Leon, Cantabria, Navarra, La Rioja, and El Pais Vasco?

Here is an interesting link regarding castles in Spain:

Asociación Española de Amigos de los Castillos .

By the way, the picture you can see at the home page is the castle of "Manzanares El Real". This is only medieval castle in Spain which still remains in good conditions and it's in Madrid!!.

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The best tips from your favourite hostal in Madrid.
Hostal Chelo at http://www.chelo.com

I think my favorite is one of the smallest castles in Spain. It's located in Basque Country. Castillo de Butrón is unique. As you can see from the link, http://www.kender.es/~butron/
it looks like it's straight out of Snow White, or some other Disney offering.

It was fantastic seeing all the young couples who were getting married there, and having pictures taken with the castle as a backdrop. They have a parapet that is often rented for wedding receptions.

To me, it's one of the few that I would return to repeatedly, just to enjoy the atmosphere, and stand on a parapet to enjoy the view.

Wolf

Where exactly is the Castillo de Butron, Wolfgang? I'm looking at my Michelin map but can't seem to spot a town of Butron.

There is a program in the Discovery channel about the great European Castles, and the only Spanish castle they talk about is
"El Escorial".
is that the most important castle in Spain?

Rafael

Hi Carole!

I'm getting specific information for you since the town of Gatika, which is nearest the castle, probably doesn't show on your map. It's location is in Vizcaya, but I should have some correlations as to its relationship to Bilbao and other towns within a day or so. I have a real problem when it comes to remembering these things. I will post it then.

Wolf

A castle in El Escoria?. Uhm, I've never heard of that. We should ask for confirmation to Missmadrid.

I wonder if they are actually talking about the "Monasterio de San Lorenzo del Escorial" which is not a castle.

Wolf-

I'VE BEEN TO BUTRON! I can't believe anyone else even KNOWS about it! It was, as you say, very small, and very closed the day we went. I was told it was built as a gift by some noble to his wife. It's been 13 years since I was there...

I must say that my favorite in the sense of what I thought a castle would be as a kid, and then seeing it realized in real life is Coca, in between Valladolid and Segovia. It is an exquisite example of mudéjar architecture, although not necessarily built for anything other than elaborate parties by the Archbishop of Fonseca (if I have my facts straight). It is a gem. Simancas is great too, but have never been inside. It's the site of the national archives.

Calibasco,

There's another smaller castle, but I believe it's privately owned, very near the coast. I can remember seeing it as we'd travel from Ea back to Bilbao. According to my friends, it was built by Napoleon for his mistress. A short jaunt across the Bay of Biscay from France on a clear day

We had the chance to wander through Butron after we took the tour, and I just loved it. The castle is so unique, but so few people see it that it's amazing. It isn't included in any Spanish tours to my knowledge, and the only tour I have heard of originates in Bilbao, and includes the Guernica Tree & assembly.

There's so much to see in Basque Country. Too many people miss it.

Wolf

So maybe CaliBasco can help?? Where is the Castillo de Butron? We'll be spending some time in Basque country and would like to take a look.

Carole-

My vague memory is telling me the following:

I remember walking to the castle from Plentzia (NOT Palencia...), which which is the terminus of the WHITE (ET/FV?) trains on the east side of the Nervión. We got off at Plentzia and headed east. If I remember correctly, it was about a 30-minute walk through very pretty countryside.

Here's a link to a map page (in Euskera...sorry) that shows Gatika in relation to Plentzia: http://www.bbk.es/Web/eus/tierra/plentzia.html

It is right outside Gatika. Here's a nice picture of the area: http://www.buber.net/Basque/Places/Pics/a0c0t8.html (Buber's Basque page is a great page, too!)

If you can get to Gatika, you can get to Butrón.

I forgot to mention: It looks like the metro runs out to Plentzia. That may be the white trains, but you do have train connection (inexpensive) for sure!

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by MadridMan (edited 03-27-2001).]

has anyone been to the castle at Garcimunoz? the town seemed empty, when i decided to take a diversion from the highway; there was no one around to answer the many questions i had.
anyone know anything about it?

Carole, I have "Insight Guide" Northern Spain (from Border's) which breaks down the area into small maps and the castle is upriver, which is actually southeast,from Plentzia toward Mungia.Plentzia is about 15 miles NE from Bilboa on the coast. Book describes it as a 10 minute detour upstream and a must-see. Great pix on Buber's page, thanks CaliBasco.

[This message has been edited by karenwishart (edited 04-02-2001).]

[This message has been edited by karenwishart (edited 04-02-2001).]

Thanks everyone! Castillo de Butron, now located (more or less) is on the itinerary. Any other suggestions?

Karen, Carole,

I'm sorry! I have been trying to get a response from the castle's email address as far as specific directions, and haven't gotten a response. I tried five times

Carole - You'll love it! CaliBasco & I give it two thumbs up each... and that ain't easy to get from us... We're Euskadi regulars.

Wolf

No problem. I just needed a general idea. I'm sure we'll find it!!

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Spain, where we toured a few castles in the Castilla y Leon, and La Rioja regions... I recommend the following:

1. Peñafiel -- Very large castle located to the west of Aranda de Duero and east of Valladolid -- right in the heart of the Ribera del Duero winemaking region! The castle is on the top of a large hill overlooking the Duero river, the town of Peñafiel & the many surrounding vineyards. You have to park the car (free) at the bottom of the hill & take a (free) bus up to the castle. Price of admission is something cheap like 250 pta. per person for a guided tour in Spanish. There is also a wine museum in the castle which costs 600 pta to enter. The town itself is rather interesting as well... there are a number of bodegas, wine shops, etc., as well as a medieval plaza (called the Plaza del Coso, I think) that is still used for theatrical works and bullfights.

2. Castillo de Davalillo (13th century) near Briones, La Rioja -- If you are planning to visit the area, this castle is really neat. Again, it sits up on a hill overlooking the many vineyards and small towns in Rioja. To get there, follow the main road to Briones. I recommend having lunch at Meson Toroño, and visiting the Plaza while you're there. Then, just past the town of Briones on the same road you will turn onto a dirt road (about 2 km or so) that leads to the castle. There is a small sign that reads "Castillo 2km" or something like that, but it is easy to miss, so be alert! You can see the castle from the road, and the access road is no more than a few kms. from Briones. Anyhow, the dirt road will take you through a bunch of vineyards and finally up to the castle. When we went there, it was completely deserted -- no tourists, no locals, nobody! You have to park the car and then hike up the foot path to visit the castle. IT IS WELL WORTH IT -- the castle is not as well kept as Peñafiel, but it's free and very scenic! You can walk through the coutryard, around the grounds, and everything!

I will post photos in a separate reply. Have a great trip!

[ 04-16-2001: Message edited by: rkennedy17 ]

Thanks for info. I'm driving Segovia to Aranda del Duero to Haro end of June and am looking for side trips, homey dining, walks/hikes etc. in and around these areas. Perhaps you have some more tips to share?

Great info, rkennedy17! We will be sure to visit both castles.

Karen / Carole -- I have tons of other recommendations for Aranda, Burgos, and La Rioja. I will post them (along with links to photos) in the next few days. I need to put out a few fires at the office first...

Rob

I highly recommend Peñafiel as well. Bone up on your history there before going, though. This is an extremely unique castle...it looks like a ship lodged on a hill. Depending on the time of year, you can actually drive up to the front gate (even though the bus is free). There is a corresponding hill a ways away which offer a great staging area from which to take beautiful pictures. If you go in May, the entire countryside around Peñafiel explodes red with poppys (or is it poppies ?).

If you're going around Segovia, there is a little itinerary that I took my father on which took us to five castles in a day. It included Coca and Pedroza (if my memory serves me), along with the ones to follow:

Cuéllar, which lies at the midpoint of Segovia and Valladolid, is worth a stop. It has been renovated and is now an instituto. You can usually catch a profe there who is willing to answer questions. The old part of town is cutesy, though small.

If you find yourself heading to Valladolid from Segovia, after stopping in Cuéllar, go to Portillo, which has an excellent old town arch-gate, and an odd-looking castle which I believe is a fine arts school at present. Top it off with a visit to Simancas' castle at the outskirts of Valladolid (home of the national archives) and you've seen some of the finest!

I guess that's why it's called Castilla...

Great info..I've already highlighted my route and I love seeing how these are all a little off the main roads. Calibasco..when you said bone up on your history..any suggestions of pre-trip reading material about Castles and Castilla in particular beside travel guides? (in English, please)

Spainsh Castles website (mostly Spanish, but some English)
http://rococo.ele.cie.uva.es/ismael/linkcas.html

If you want a side trip, going from Segovia to Aranda de Duero through the N-I, you can deffinetely take a road on the right at the 136 Kilometre. The road heads to a place called Vilalvilla. It's a tiny road sorrounded by pine forests

Karen- Sorry I didn't respond to your recent post...I suppose the best sources are available on the web via search. Most sites from Spain now have an English version, and are certainly more colorful and trustworthy than "Let's Go..." series books. I'll post some of my favorites in the future...

So Shimano, what exactly is down this road? It is definately in the area I will be traveling. Thanks Calibasco...I'll look forward to info