Castle of Auqueospese (Ávila)

East view of the castle

The castle is located on the crags of the foothills of the Sierra de la Paramera, overlooking the Amblés valley. It has an fitful shape and blends in with the rocks where it sits. It is mentioned in documents from the 11th and 12th centuries making reference to war and reconquest expeditions against the Arabs, being the Dávila lineage who rebuilt the current castle during the 13th century as a result of the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. It is also known as the castle of the Risco or castle of Manqueospese.

East main facade

Entrance bulwark on the eastern side

Entrance gate

Heraldic shield of the Dávila family over the entrance door

North expanse between the outer barbican and the main enclosure

North tower of the indoor enclosure

South expanse between the outer barbican and the main enclosure

Battlements on the eastern canvas of the south outer wall

Indoor view of one of the embrasure of the outer wall

South wall of the indoor enclosure

East tower of the indoor enclosure

Main facade of the indoor enclosure

Cylindrical checkpoint about stepped corbels

Eastern view of the homage tower

Entrance door to the indoor enclosure of the castle

Eastern area of the parade ground in the indoor enclosure

Western area of the parade ground

South wall of the indoor enclosure

Western canvas of the south wall

Homage tower

Access to the homage tower

Battlements of the west wall

Access to the latrines on the west wall

Exit door of the indoor enclosure

Exit access of the castle

South-east view of the castle

Canvas of the south-east outer wall

Remains of a barbican on the outer wall

South canvas of the barbican

South view of the castle

South outer wall

Detail of embrasures in the outer wall

Battlements of the western canvas of the south outer wall

Detail of the rocks on which the castle sits

South-west view of the castle

 

The valley of Amblés seen from the castle

 

West wall

 

Outhouse on the west wall

 

Structure of a window in the walls

 

North-west view of the castle

 

Various windows in the north-west corner of the wall

 

North wall

 

Eastern canvas of the north wall

 

Postern on the north wall

 

North tower

 

Western canvas of the north wall

 

North-east view of the castle

 

Panoramic of the castle from the town of Sotalbo

 

Mironcillo

View of the town and the castle from the banks of the Fortes river

Mironcillo is a municipality in the province of Ávila in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León. It belongs to the Valle del Amblés region and part of its territory is included in the natural area of the Sierras de la Paramera and la Serrota. The municipality is bathed by the Garganta river, which rises near Zapatero peak (2,146 meters) and runs from south to north.