Castle of Magacela (Badajoz)

North view of the castle located on a steep rocky hill

The castle of Magacela is a defensive building built during the 13th century on a long, rocky hill about 250 meters long and 65 meters wide in some areas. The castle consists of three enclosures. The first is the longest and is where the access to the fortress is located and in it were the buildings of the town, the parade ground (currently an old cemetery) and houses the church of Santa Ana, built in the 15th century. The second or intermediate enclosure was accessed through a portal between two semi-cylindrical defensive towers. In the westernmost part and with the highest elevation is the third enclosure or alcázar, where the centers of power, administration and economy were located. In this enclosure is the homage tower with an irregular octagonal floor plan.

Western canvas of the north wall of the first castle enclosure

Almohad tower of the north wall

Canvas of the north wall and main access to the castle in a bend

Almohad tower battlements

Castle entrance access

Indoor esplanade of the first enclosure possibly place of population settlement

Indoor of the cyclopean canvas of the south-east wall of the first enclosure

Church of Santa Ana located indoor the first enclosure of the castle

Bastion of the south wall of the first enclosure at the height of the church

 of Santa Ana

Zone where the castle's parade ground would be located, today 

an old ecclesiastical cemetery

North-east view of the second enclosure and the alcazar

Access area to the second enclosure between two defensive cubes

Base of the defensive cube north of the access door to the second enclosure

Remains of the defensive cube to the south of the access door to the second enclosure

Esplanade of the second enclosure of the castle

Remains of the south wall of the second enclosure

North esplanade in the second enclosure

Partial view of the indoor of the north wall of the second enclosure

Postern on the north wall of the second enclosure

Canvas of the north wall of the second enclosure

Top view of the north tower of the almohad of the second enclosure

Eastern view of the alcázar or main body of the castle

East wall of the main body

North-east side of the homage tower

North wall of the main body

Access to alcazar of the castle

Esplanade east of the indoor of the alcazar

Indoor of the south-east tower of the alcazar

Space dedicated to the bread basket and of chicken coop in the south-east

area of the alcazar

South esplanade of indoor the alcazar

Alcazar stables area

Remains of the south-west tower of the alcazar

North esplanade of indoor the alcazar

Remains of the indoor of the north-west tower where the kitchen 

of the alcazar could be located

Large central cistern located next to other rooms and the chapel of the alcazar

South-west view of the homage tower

Indoor of the north wall of the first enclosure

Semicircular exit arch

North view of the castle from the population

North wall of the main body or alcazar

Eastern canvas of the north wall of the second enclosure where

the postern is located

Western canvas of the north wall of the second enclosure and almohad tower

Remains of the central canvas of the north wall of the first enclosure

North-east wall of the first enclosure

Remains of the west wall of the first enclosure

Fortified bastion of the south wall of the first enclosure

Cyclopean natural defense along the southern slope of the castle

South-east view of the alcazar of the castle

Magacela

Panoramic view of the population located in the east of the mountain range

of the same name

Magacela is a municipality in the province of Badajoz in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, it emerges in the north-west area of the La Serena region, belonging to the judicial district of Villanueva de la Serena. The town had its beginning in the castle and grew down the slope. Its origins date back to prehistory, as evidenced by a magnificent dolmen from the third millennium BC, located on the plain. The population was occupied in Muslim times and reconquered by the Master of the Order of Alcántara Frey Arias Pérez during the reign of Ferdinand III the Saint.