Castle of Montemar

The Castle of Montemar is an 18th-century manor house standing south of the town of Algorfa, in the province of Alicante, within the Vega Baja del Segura region.

Where exactly is the castle, and what surrounds it?

The building sits on a hilltop overlooking a valley that stretches toward Orihuela and the mountains beyond — a spot known locally for long, striking sunsets. Mediterranean pine woodland surrounds the site, and La Finca Golf course lies right next door. The castle actually lent its name to the nearby Montemar urbanization, a residential development of villas and apartments spread between the golf course and Algorfa itself. The Costa Blanca coastline is around a dozen kilometers away.

What is the history behind this building?

The manor was built in the late 18th century by Joaquín de Rojas y Caniccia de Franci, who raised it over the remains of an earlier Muslim-era tower. He commissioned it as a gift for his wife, Mariana Pascual de Bonanza y Soler de Cornellá. Despite its castle-like appearance, the building was never intended for military use — from the outset it served as a residence, later becoming a summer retreat for the family that owned it.

For close to a century and a half, the estate stayed in the hands of the Rojas family, who held the title of Counts of Casa Rojas. Following the Spanish Civil War, the family was forced to sell both the estate and the castle itself. Ownership then passed through several hands until 1970, when the current owners acquired the property and carried out a major restoration — work that rescued the building from decay and adapted its interior for use as a private residence, which remains its function today.

What does the architecture look like?

The building is generally described as Francophile in style, typical of the ornamental "follies" favored by aristocratic residences of the period. Its layout combines two square towers with two cylindrical towers, all finished with ashlar stonework at the corners. The main tower — functioning as the keep — stands out for its corner machicolations and outward-sloping crenellations, decorative flourishes that echo defensive architecture without ever having served a real defensive purpose.

Can visitors go inside the castle?

The Castle of Montemar remains privately owned and continues to function as a residence, so it is not a tourist site open to the public on a regular basis. Its silhouette and distinctive towers can still be admired from outside while walking through the surrounding urbanization that shares its name. The property is listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural (an asset of cultural interest), confirming its recognized historical and architectural value within the region.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Castle of Montemar a medieval fortress? No — despite its defensive-looking towers, machicolations, and crenellations, the building only dates from the late 18th century and was never used for military purposes. It was raised over the remains of an older Muslim-era tower.

Who built the castle, and why? Joaquín de Rojas y Caniccia de Franci built it as a gift for his wife, Mariana Pascual de Bonanza y Soler de Cornellá. It was conceived as a residence from the start, not a fortification.

Is it possible to visit the inside of the castle? No — the building is a private residence and is not generally open to visitors. It can, however, be viewed from outside, from within the surrounding Montemar urbanization.

What is there to see near the castle? La Finca Golf course sits right next to it, along with the villa-and-apartment development that took the castle's name. The area is covered in Mediterranean pine woodland, and the Costa Blanca beaches are around a dozen kilometers away.