Castillo de Añués

Castillo de Añués rises on a low hill in the abandoned settlement of Añués, sitting right on the boundary between the municipality of Sos del Rey Católico (Zaragoza province, Aragón) and Sangüesa (Navarre), in the Valdonsella area at the foot of the Sierra de Peña, roughly 530 metres above sea level. Few sites illustrate a medieval frontier as literally as this one — the tower was built precisely because two kingdoms met on this hillside.

How do you get there?

Añués has no permanent residents and no visitor infrastructure today — the land has belonged to the Bonafonte family since 1840, following the 19th-century disentailment. Access is via unpaved local tracks connecting Sos del Rey Católico with the Sangüesa area, so the easiest approach is to drive to either town and continue on foot or by bike along rural paths. Sturdy footwear is worth packing, since the ground is uneven and the ruin itself sits on a rise above the surrounding fields.

Why was a castle built here?

The earliest record of Añués dates to the year 880, when it belonged to the Monastery of Leyre, granted by the Navarrese king García Íñiguez. In 1136, once the site fell under the Kingdom of Aragón, defensive works were carried out here in anticipation of Navarrese incursions — the tower served as a lookout post facing the border. In 1305 the monks of Leyre gave up their rights over Añués to King James II of Aragón in exchange for patronage of the church of La Real. In 1473, John II of Aragón granted the estate to Juan Ortiz as a reward for his support during the Navarrese civil war. Its final feudal lords were members of the Añués family, before the property passed into private hands through 19th-century disentailment.

What will you actually see?

The centrepiece is a square ashlar tower roughly 4 metres per side and about 12 metres tall, topped with crenellations and pierced by arrow slits in its thick walls. There's no internal floor division — only a spiral staircase winding up to a viewing terrace at the top. A Romanesque church dedicated to San Pedro once stood attached to the tower, measuring about 18 by 6 metres with a semicircular apse and rectangular nave; it has since lost its roof, though the vault springlines and a round-arched doorway that once linked church and castle both survive. The site was declared a regional Cultural Heritage Asset (Bien de Interés Cultural) in 2006.

When is the best time to visit?

Since this is open, undeveloped countryside, spring and autumn bring the mildest conditions in this stretch of Aragón and Navarre, and the Valdonsella landscape beneath the Sierra de Peña looks its best. Summer heat can make longer walks uncomfortable, especially with little shade along the way. It's worth pairing the visit with a stop in Sos del Rey Católico itself, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Cinco Villas region.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the castle? The land is private, but the ruins stand in open countryside and can be reached from outside free of charge, with no fixed opening hours — there is no tourist infrastructure on site, though.

Which region does Añués officially belong to? It falls within the municipality of Sos del Rey Católico, in Zaragoza province, Aragón, even though the site borders Sangüesa in Navarre directly — which explains why its administrative affiliation is often mixed up.

How big is the tower? Roughly 4 by 4 metres at the base and about 12 metres tall, with surviving crenellations and arrow slits in its walls.

Is there anything else worth seeing nearby? Yes — the ruined Romanesque church of San Pedro attached to the tower, and the town of Sos del Rey Católico itself, with its intact medieval street layout.