Castle of Mota del Marqués (Valladolid)

North-west view of the castle

The castle was built in the 13th century during the reign of King Alfonso X the Wise, on a hill overlooking the town. The original layout consisted of a wall flanked by towers, of which some vestiges still remain. The homage tower is preserved in ruin, the only one with a circular floor plan in all of Castile, with arrow slits for defense and covered by a dome. From 1222, it belonged to the Teutonic Knights of Prussia through Beatrice of Swabia, wife of King Ferdinand III the Saint of Castile, passing during the reign of King Alfonso XI to Juan Alonso de Benavides. During the Peninsular War in the 19th century, it was destroyed by the French invaders.

Detail of the moat on its north-west side between the outer wall and the castle

West side of the castle homage tower

Remains of buildings on the western side of the castle

Esplanade of the castle's parade ground

South-west view of the castle's homage tower

Indoor of the homage tower

Dome of the indoor of the homage tower

Indoor view of openings on the north-east side of the homage tower

Access to a possible defensive point with an arrow slit on the north-east side

of the homage tower

Remains of the south-west wall of the castle

South-east view of the castle's homage tower

Outer view of openings on the north-east side of the homage tower

Base of the homage tower where the connection with 

the north wall of the castle can be seen

Location of the castle of Mota del Marqués