Castle of Villalpando (Zamora)

North-west view of the castle

The castle of the Velasco, also called the Palace of the Constables of Castile, was probably built in the 12th century, during the repopulation of King Ferdinand II of Leon, who granted the town a charter in 1179. It was a lordship of the Order of the Temple until its dissolution in 1312. During the War of the Communities, the castle was burned down, and Constable Don Iñigo built a palace on its ruins. Two canvas of the castle wall remain, and in the north corner, a circular tower, which may have served as a homage tower, is located. In the basement is the dungeon where the Dauphin of France and the Duke of Orleans, sons of Francis I, King of France, were held prisoner for more than two years, hostages of Spain due to the French defeat at Pavia.

Castle of Granucillo (Zamora)

North view of the castle from the path of the hermitage of 

Santo Cristo de San Adrián

The castle-palace of the Counts of Benavente was built before the year 1446 by members of the Escobar family, who were lords of the town, who obtained this territory through a donation from King Henry III of Castile, being transferred at the end of the 15th century. to the Pimentel family, Counts of Benavente. Only the walled perimeter located on a small hill next to the Almucera stream is preserved, and inside the foundations and the lower part of the homage tower.

Granucillo

Town Hall

Granucillo is a municipality of the province of Zamora in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, located in the region of Benavente and Los Valles, sub-region of Vidriales. It is characterized by its rich landscape and the numerous vestiges of the past, with the dolmens of Las Peñezuelas and San Adrián, which show the existence of settlement human since the Bronze Age. In the Middle Ages it was integrated into the Kingdom de León, whose monarchs undertook the repopulation of the town, to later integrated into the Lands of the Count of Benavente.

Castle of Castrotorafe (Zamora)

South view of the castle

This 11th-century castle is located in the north-west corner of the deserted village of Castrotorafe (also known as Zamora la Vieja), belongs to the municipality of San Cebrián de Castro, in the middle region of the Tierra del Pan. It is situated on an escarpment beside the reservoir of Ricobayo, which collects the waters of the river Esla.