One of the most impressive palace-castles in Extremadura, built in the 13th century, rises in the north of Cáceres, near the Monfragüe National Park. From its rocky promontory, you can take in views of pastures, rivers, and a small white village that quite literally lives in its shadow. From here, you can gaze out over the waters of the Tagus River, held back by the Valdecañas reservoir, and the vast open spaces of Campo Arañuelo. This landscape turns the fortress into one of the region’s most remarkable historical and scenic treasures.
This place has its own name: the castle of Belvís de Monroy. This imposing palace-castle stands atop a hill, its silhouette of towers, walls, and semicircular bastions visible from afar. Built around a primitive 13th-century watchtower and later expanded into three separate sections, the complex showcases a blend of styles from late Gothic to Plateresque and Baroque. Its defensive walls, the triangular tower guarding the entrance, inner courtyards, and Renaissance-era living quarters speak both to its military past during the Reconquista and to its later role as a palace, when the nobility sought comfort and prestige without sacrificing the solidity of granite stone.
The history of the Belvís de Monroy castle is closely tied to the Monroy and Herrera families, as well as to the lordship established after the Reconquista to develop and settle these lands in northern Cáceres. On the site of a fortified house attributed to the first lords, a powerful multi-sided fortress was built, reinforced with tall, massive cylindrical towers. In the 15th century, the castle endured sieges and pillaging resulting from conflicts between rival branches of the family. Later, in the 16th century, the complex adopted Renaissance features with the construction of a large Plateresque inner courtyard with two stories and arcades, as well as palace rooms adorned with sgraffito and classical elements, designed for courtly life.
At the foot of this imposing structure lies the village of Belvís de Monroy, with its whitewashed houses, the church of Santiago, and the nearby monastery of San Francisco del Berrocal, from which the ‘Twelve Apostles of Mexico’ expedition departed in 1523. Today, the visit to the castle, which remains majestic even in ruins and is protected as a historical monument, allows you to view it from the outside, as it is privately owned. From its viewpoints, there are vistas of the Tiétar valley and the Sierra de Gredos mountains. Free guided tours are offered on weekends, sharing the history of the castle and the village, while scale models can be seen at the Campo Arañuelo Center for Historical and Cultural Interpretation.
Incidentally, Extremadura is an autonomous community in western Spain, bordering Portugal. The region is renowned for its rich historical heritage, including numerous castles, Roman ruins such as the theater in Mérida, and monasteries. Due to its strategic location, Extremadura was the site of many battles during the Reconquista, which explains the large number of well-preserved fortresses and strongholds scattered across its territory. The region is also famous for its natural beauty, including the Monfragüe National Park, and is the birthplace of many famous conquistadors.
