Castillo de Tabernas

Granada

Castillo de Tabernas crowns the hill above town, raised by the Moors in the 11th century to guard the route between Almería and Murcia and ranked the second most important citadel in the Almería region. Ferdinand and Isabella stayed here in 1489 after taking it from the Emirate of Granada, and Almería's surrender papers were signed within its walls. Abandoned by the 1600s, the ruins still command the view.

Before 1489 the castle was the seat of Muhammad XIII, known as El Zagal, the penultimate Nasrid king of Granada, who handed it to Ferdinand and Isabella that December along with the cities of Almería and Guadix. It served as a military post during the 1568 Alpujarras rebellion, and in 1570 Juan de Austria visited Tabernas and ordered the fortification reinforced, though it was abandoned for good by the end of the century. Fighting during Spain's War of Independence in the early 1800s left it further damaged. A restoration begun in 2021 uncovered an Andalusi cistern in excellent condition, sealed off in the 1970s to keep out vandals.

From riders

What you'll see

A round tower still stands at the centre of the ruin as the old keep, flanked by the stubs of further towers and a twin-towered gateway.

Practical

Reached on foot only, via a marked 0.7-kilometre path from Tabernas town: motor vehicles are barred from the surrounding protected natural area, and entry to the ruins is free.

Checked 13 August 2026

Moorish castleNasrid historyFilm location