Castillo de la Corona

Castillo de la Corona is a medieval fortress standing above the town of Almudévar, in the province of Huesca, in the Aragón region of Spain. It rises on a round-shaped hill that, according to local tradition, gave the settlement its name — the Arabic term "al-mudawwar" means "the round one." The castle has Muslim origins, with a history that predates the Christian conquest of the area.

How to get there?

Almudévar sits in the Hoya de Huesca district, close to the main routes connecting Zaragoza and Huesca. The hill holding the fortress rises right beside the town itself, so reaching it from the centre of Almudévar means little more than a short uphill walk.

What will you see?

The fortress was taken by Christian forces in 1118. Half a century later, in 1170, King Alfonso II granted the settlement a charter of population, turning it into a royal village, and residents were allowed to use the remains of the Muslim castle to build a church. That church was raised between 1184 and 1231 in Cistercian style and dedicated to the Virgin of la Corona — the origin of the name still carried by the whole complex today.

Surviving remains include sections of the defensive walls, traces of the original church, several towers, and an access gate bearing a coat of arms dated 1584. The most distinctive feature is the sturdy keep (torre del homenaje), a rectangular structure roughly 13 by 5.5 metres and 15 metres tall, built in dressed stone. Its upper section is topped by a gallery of brick arches added in the 16th century.

The castle also played a part in the wider politics of the Iberian Peninsula: in 1364, Charles II of Navarre and Henry of Trastámara met here with the Queen of Aragón to plot the overthrow of the Castilian king Pedro I the Cruel.

A short walk from the fortress leads to a viewpoint with sweeping views over the Pre-Pyrenees, the Sierra de Guara range, and Moncayo mountain. The same hill, known as La Corona, also holds the Ermita de la Virgen de la Corona and the Pozo Chelo well, together forming a walking route that ties the history of the site to the surrounding landscape.

When to visit?

Since the castle is an open-air site, dry weather makes for the most comfortable walk up the hill and the clearest views from the lookout point. Almudévar organises free, dramatised guided visits on weekends, taking in the Interpretation Centre and the natural surroundings of La Corona — a good way to learn the fortress's history with a guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the castle free to visit? The grounds around the fortress are open to the public, and free, dramatised guided tours run on weekends.

What else is worth seeing besides the castle itself? On the same La Corona hill you'll find the Ermita de la Virgen de la Corona, the Pozo Chelo well, and a viewpoint overlooking the Sierra de Guara and Moncayo.

Where does the castle's name come from? It takes its name from the church built here in the 12th–13th centuries and dedicated to the Virgin of la Corona, whose remains still stand within the complex.

What historical event is linked to this site? In 1364, Charles II of Navarre and Henry of Trastámara met the Queen of Aragón at the castle to plan the overthrow of King Pedro I of Castile, known as "the Cruel."