Castle of Floripes

The Castle of Floripes, standing in the municipality of Garrovillas de Alconétar in the province of Cáceres, is one of the most unusual fortresses in Extremadura — a medieval stronghold that spends most of the year partly submerged beneath the waters of the Alcántara reservoir.

What is the history behind the castle?

The site guarded a river crossing over the Tagus since Roman times, when a watchtower known as the Turmulus stood here. Arab settlers later held the position, calling it Alconétara, before it passed into Christian hands. Ferdinand II of León captured the stronghold and in 1166 granted it to the Knights Templar, who defended the area against Muslim incursions for decades. After the Templars abandoned the site around 1258, King Alfonso X granted it to the infante Don Fernando in 1268. Through the 15th century the castle passed to the Countess of Alburquerque and later to the houses of Alba de Liste and the dukes of Frías, who commissioned the Gothic rebuilding that gave the tower its present form around 1468.

The fortress was laid out with a double defensive perimeter reinforced by square towers, with three albarrana towers standing out as its most distinctive feature — towers built just beyond the main wall line and linked to it only by a narrow bridge, a design rooted in Islamic military architecture that Christian builders later adopted. The castle also earned a place in literature: it featured in medieval chivalric ballads, and Miguel de Cervantes referred to it indirectly on two occasions in "Don Quixote."

Why does the castle stand in water?

In 1969, the construction of the Alcántara dam and reservoir (also known as the José María Oriol reservoir) on the Tagus River flooded the valley along with the fortress. Most of its walls now lie beneath the surface, with only the upper section of the keep rising above the waterline. In particularly dry years, when the reservoir's water level drops sharply, stretches of the crenellated defensive walls also emerge, creating a striking sight that draws photographers and history enthusiasts from across Spain.

How to get there and when to visit?

The castle sits within the Alcántara reservoir, near the town of Garrovillas de Alconétar. The best chance to see the tower — and, in drier years, additional sections of wall — comes in summer and during periods of drought, when the reservoir's water level falls low enough to reveal more of the ruins and allow closer access along the shore. Nearby, the remains of the ancient Roman bridge of Alconétar are also worth a visit; the bridge once formed part of the Vía de la Plata route linking the south and north of the Iberian Peninsula.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors go inside the castle? No — the ruins stand within a reservoir and can only be viewed from the shore or the water, depending on the current water level.

When is the best time to see the tower rising above the water? Summer months and drought years offer the best conditions, as the Alcántara reservoir's water level drops noticeably during these periods.

Where does the name Floripes come from? The name is linked to medieval chivalric ballads and legends in which the fortress appears under that name; it is also known as the Castillo de Rocafrida.

Are there other historic sites nearby? Yes, the remains of the Roman bridge of Alconétar and the historic center of Garrovillas de Alconétar, with its medieval architecture, are both close by.