Castle of Dos Hermanas

Castle of Dos Hermanas is a medieval ruin standing a few kilometers from Navahermosa, deep in the Montes de Toledo range. It ranks among the oldest fortifications in Toledo province, with roots tracing back to the 11th-12th centuries, when it served as an Arab-era stronghold guarding a natural frontier line.

How do you get there?

The castle sits roughly 3 km from Navahermosa, perched on a rocky outcrop separated from a twin hill by the Marlín stream. Getting there by car means driving local roads through the rolling terrain of the Montes de Toledo, and the final stretch has to be covered on foot. The walk itself is short, but sturdy footwear is worth packing since the ground is rocky and uneven. This is a spot for travelers who want genuine history without crowds.

What will you see?

What remains of the castle is mostly sections of defensive walls and structural outlines, now overtaken by vegetation typical of the Mediterranean interior. Despite the visible decay, the elevated rocky position still makes clear why the site mattered strategically — from here, whoever held the castle controlled access to the surrounding valleys. The panoramic view over the Montes de Toledo is one of the strongest reasons to make the trip, even though the ruins themselves are modest in scale.

The history behind the fortress

The stronghold operated as a defensive outpost on the border with Muslim-held territory before the region's administrative boundaries took their current shape. In 1210 the land was granted to the knight-colonizer Alfonso Téllez, who resettled this frontier area at his own expense and personal risk. Just twelve years later, in 1222, the property was sold to the Archbishop of Toledo, Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada — one of the most influential churchmen in medieval Castile.

Ownership then passed to King Fernando III "the Saint," who in 1246 sold the castle, along with the surrounding lands (including Malamoneda and its mountains), to the city of Toledo. Across the 13th century the fortress thus changed hands between secular and ecclesiastical owners, mirroring the shifting balance of power in this part of Castile.

The turning point came in 1444. Toledo's authorities, judging the region fully pacified, ordered the garrison guarding the castle disbanded. That decision triggered the depopulation of the village of Dos Hermanas, which had grown up at the foot of the fortress. Its inhabitants didn't simply vanish, though — they went on to found the first houses of what is now Navahermosa, effectively relocating the settlement's life to a new site. Since the 15th century the castle has stood abandoned, gradually crumbling into the landscape rather than continuing as an inhabited place.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the best times to come, when temperatures in the Castilian interior are mild and the vegetation around the ruins looks its most striking. Summer in the Montes de Toledo can get very hot, making the walking approach to the castle uncomfortable. Aim for early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday sun.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Castle of Dos Hermanas open to visitors? Yes, the ruins are freely accessible, with no entrance fee and no fixed opening hours — it's an informal, unguarded historical site.

Do you have to walk to reach the castle? Yes, the final stretch from the nearest road has to be covered on foot over rocky, uneven terrain.

Where does the name "Dos Hermanas" come from? The name refers to two twin rocky outcrops — the castle stands on one of them — separated from each other by the Marlín stream.

What is the castle's connection to Navahermosa? After the garrison was disbanded in 1444, residents of the abandoned village of Dos Hermanas founded the first houses of today's Navahermosa, making the castle the historical starting point of the town.