Gran Castillo de Pedraza — Local services in Pedraza

As we approached Pedraza Castle along the valley road we had to stop for a photo as we could see it, perched on the clifftop above us. The whole village was on a cliff, like one of the Italian fortified hilltop villages. Which is what it was I guess. Only not Italian. We drove up the access road, through the narrow village gates and then followed an interesting route with the added delight of stone benches outside a lot of the houses just to make things a little narrower and turns a little bit more fraught. The parking area was huge and I guess it was for the entire village plus any events held at the castle.

Walking from the parking area we saw large birds of prey soaring overhead and from the signs at the entrance, it appears that the area is a nature reserve. The castle has quite a chequered history, built in the 13th century and home to the Dukes of Frias its claim to fame is that it was the prison of Francis I's sons, held hostage after his capture at Pavia in 1515. The castle was slighted by Napoleon in revenge for the alleged poor treatment of the Princes and then abandoned, being used as a quarry by the locals. In the 20th century the castle was bought by the painter Zuloaga for a nominal sum and restored as a residence and painting studio and his family still own the property. It is now a tourist attraction and also used for events such as weddings.

There is a large rock cut moat separating the castle from the rest of the village and this, combined with the steep sliffs, greatly aided its defense. The door was covered in metal spikes, probably as a defence against axes and fire maybe? It looked impressive anyway. We entered the castle, paid our €5 each and walked up on to the outer ramparts. The views were, frankly, terrifying and I had flashbacks to that damned belltower. We were able to watch the birds though which was distracting and then we returned to ground level and went through the access tunnel with portcullis to the inner bailey. This had a beautiful garden and also a swimming pool.

We were able to go inside the keep, which had been converted to living quarters for the Zuloaga family with some very nicely appointed rooms. Outside the castle I walked the length of the moat as there was a such a profusion of wildflowers it was beautifully photogenic. We walked through the village which seemed to have a lot of heavily restored houses so I'm not sure if it is a holiday location or just well looked after. The main street was very pretty and it seemed everyone had pots of window boxes of geraniums outside...

The Castle is open Wednesday to Sunday, 7€ per person. We did not visit as it was closed but would not have bothered anyway. We first visited Pedraza 26 years ago and returned for this, our fourth visit, for the town, not the Castle. It is little changed. The Plaza Major has a lovely bar and restuarant....menu prices reflecting Pedraza's popularity with the Madrilenos and its tourist appeal. It has several restuarants and bars. The back streets are well worth a wander. There is a fine artist, Rafael Sanchez Munoz, located in the town with some lovely works to admire and buy, some reasonably priced. The former jail can be visited.... again, at a price....but perhaps understandably, given that it is deemed one of the best preserved medieval prisons in Spain.There is a one way system into the town along narrow streets so what might appear a potential concern is not, though anything larger than a car will be a tight fit. Enjoy the storks if you are there in May. We watched one feeding it's young, its nest perched on a tall tower. They also nest on parts of the castle.Visit the Casa del Aquila Imperial, an information centre with much to offer and excellent and informative displays. Don't miss it out when visiting. It is on the outskirts...

It (Castle of Pedraza) is a medieval fortress located in the historic town of Pedraza, in the province of Segovia.

The castle dates back to the 13th century and has been well-preserved, making it one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Spain.

The castle has a rectangular shape with four towers, and it is surrounded by a moat.

Visitors can explore the castle's interior, which includes a chapel, a cistern, and various rooms that showcase the castle's history and architecture. The castle's towers offer stunning views of the surrounding town and countryside.

Throughout the year, the castle hosts various cultural events, including concerts, theater performances, and exhibitions. During the summer months, it also offers night tours of the castle, which provide a unique and atmospheric experience.

It is a must-visit for those interested in medieval history and architecture, and it offers a fascinating glimpse into the past of this beautiful town in...