19/3/24

Castle of Zumel (Burgos)

South-west view of the castle


The castle of Zumel was built in the mid-15th century, although its origin may have been earlier, by Pedro Yáñez de Ulloa, chief chancellor of King Juan II. Inside the castle, the homage tower stands out, which stands in the northwest corner of the parade ground. More than a defensive fortress, it served as a tower-palace, demonstrating the high economic position of its owners. In 1516 it passed into the hands of the Bernuy family of converted Jewish origin from Burgos, important and influential in European trade in the 16th century, which extended commercially to North Africa, America and the Azores Islands.

South wall

Pointed arch door leading to the indoor of the castle

Battlements on the south wall

View of the homage tower on its south side

Detail of the stone modillions that supported the defensive attics
of the homage tower


Eastern view of the castle

South-west view of the homage tower

Pointed window on the south side of the homage tower

Heraldic coat of arms of the founding family of the Yáñez de Ulloa castle

West side of the homage tower 

Loophole on the west side of the homage tower

West wall

Battlements on the west wall

Detail of the slope on which the castle sits

North side of the homage tower

Embrasure on the north side of the homage tower

North-east view of the castle

East wall

East side of the homage tower

South-east view of the castle

Zumel

Zumel administrative board


Zumel is a town belonging to the municipality of Valle de Santibáñez, in the province of Burgos in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, it belongs to the region of Alfoz de Burgos. It is located on the banks of the Urbel River, and is documented in a manuscript from the Oña monastery, from the first years of the 11th century, when the place appeared repopulated by Basque immigrants, who gave it the name Zumel (wicker tree), although its origin may be be previous.

Church of the Assumption of Our Lady

Bell tower of the church of the Assumption of Our Lady

Hermitage of Our Lady of the Barn

Black poplar (Chopo de Zumel) next to the cemetery

Panoramic of the town from the hermitage of Our Lady of the Barn

Location of the castle of Zumel