Castillo de Artasona

Castillo de Artasona, near Loscorrales in the province of Huesca, Aragon, is a ruined medieval fortress standing on a hilltop close to the small town of Ayerbe. Reduced today to a few standing walls and two towers, it remains one of the notable stops on the trail of border castles that once defended this part of Aragon.

A frontier fortress with royal origins

The earliest written record of a stronghold at Artasona dates to 1087, when King Sancho Ramírez ordered Sancho Aznárez de Perarrúa and Pepino Aznárez de Alquézar to raise a castle here and resettle the surrounding land. The project served two purposes at once: securing royal authority over territory only recently taken from Muslim rule, and controlling the road linking Loarre with Zaragoza. A small settlement grew up on the southeastern slope below the walls, and this community received its founding charter from Alfonso I in 1134.

In 1261, King Jaime I folded Artasona into the barony of Ayerbe, which he had created for his son Pedro. The lordship changed hands again in 1390, when the Claramonte family took control of the barony; their descendants were later granted the title of Marquises of Artasona in 1803. It was under the Claramonte family, during the 15th and 16th centuries, that the austere military stronghold was substantially remodeled into a residential palace-castle.

The building's decline came during the Peninsular War in the early 19th century. French troops occupying the site dynamited it before withdrawing, leaving the castle in the ruined state visitors find today.

What survives on site

The complex follows a triangular plan roughly 45 by 30 metres, originally anchored by a cylindrical tower at each corner. The southern half of the structure still stands, preserving two of those towers along with connecting stretches of curtain wall, enough to trace the outline of the original fortification. The entire northern half, by contrast, has collapsed into rubble. Even in ruin, the silhouette still commands the surrounding countryside, hinting at the scale of the stronghold that once guarded this strategic route.

How to get there

The ruins crown a hill in the municipality of Loscorrales, about 8 kilometres south of Ayerbe, near the site of the former Turuñana railway station. The area lies within the Hoya de Huesca comarca, a district known for its dense cluster of medieval castles and watchtowers, making Artasona a natural stop for anyone touring the region's fortified heritage.

When to visit

There is no shelter or indoor attraction on the hilltop, so the site is best explored during seasons that favour walking outdoors. Spring and autumn bring milder temperatures than the height of summer, when Aragon's Mediterranean-influenced climate can turn very hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Castillo de Artasona? A medieval frontier castle built in 1087, later remodeled into a residential palace-castle by the Claramonte family.

Why is the castle in ruins today? French troops dynamited it during the Peninsular War in the early 19th century as they withdrew from the area.

How many towers still stand? Two of the original three corner towers survive, along with the southern stretch of curtain wall.

Where exactly is the castle located? On a hilltop in the municipality of Loscorrales, Huesca province, about 8 km south of Ayerbe, near the former Turuñana station.