Castle of Xiquena

Castle of Xiquena is a fortress of Islamic origin standing at roughly 760 meters above sea level in the Fontanares district, part of the municipality of Lorca in Murcia, close to the border with Andalusia. It sits about 25 km from central Lorca and just under 10 km from the town of Vélez Rubio. The ruins overlook the valley of the Corneros River, a spot that held strategic weight for centuries as a means of controlling this frontier territory.

How did a fortress end up in this remote spot?

The earliest traces of settlement around Xiquena go back to the Islamic period, likely around the 10th century, when people began occupying the alluvial terraces of the Corneros valley. The stronghold was built as part of a Muslim defensive network guarding access to the emirate's inner lands, in an area that would later become a critical border point.

Why did this area turn into a frontier between two hostile kingdoms?

The incorporation of the Kingdom of Murcia into the Crown of Castile in the mid-13th century turned this region into a vast border zone locked in a near-permanent state of war. After a period of unclear allegiance, the fortresses of Xiquena and Tirieza fell under the control of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, and the strip of land separating the two states became a deliberately depopulated buffer between two potentially hostile powers, Castile and Granada.

When did the castle pass into Christian hands?

The Islamic-era fortress was captured in 1433 by troops under the command of the comendador mayor Alonso Yáñez Fajardo. From that point on, Xiquena became the furthest forward Christian outpost facing the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, serving as a front line of defense along a highly sensitive stretch of border.

How did the castle end up with the Fajardo family, and later the Pachecos?

In 1450, by decree of King John II of Castile, the castle became part of the seigniory of Alfonso Fajardo. The stronghold was soon caught up in the power struggles playing out across the kingdom during a period of civil war. Nine years later, following a defeat inflicted by commander Pedro Fajardo, the castle was sold to the Marquis of Villena, Don Juan Pacheco, who turned it into a platform for exercising his own political influence over the Lorca region.

What led to the castle's destruction?

As the reconquest advanced from the late 15th century onward, the frontier shifted further south and Xiquena lost its original strategic value as a border stronghold. After passing to the Marquis of Villena, the fortress remained entangled in the political maneuvering of the territorial powers of the former Kingdom of Murcia, until 1520, when troops of the Marquis of los Vélez destroyed it, taking advantage of the unrest surrounding the Revolt of the Comuneros. The site has remained in ruins ever since.

What can visitors see on site today?

Sections of the defensive walls and the outline of the former castle structures still survive, allowing the layout of the fortress to be traced. Its hilltop position above the Corneros valley still offers a sweeping view over the surrounding countryside, which explains why this location was chosen for the fortification in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the Castle of Xiquena located? In the Fontanares district, within the municipality of Lorca (Murcia region), at about 760 m above sea level, roughly 25 km from central Lorca and just under 10 km from Vélez Rubio.

Who built the castle and when? The fortress is of Islamic origin, with the earliest settlement in the area dating to around the 10th century.

When did the castle come under Christian control? In 1433, when it was captured by troops led by the comendador mayor Alonso Yáñez Fajardo.

Why was the castle destroyed? In 1520, troops of the Marquis of los Vélez destroyed the fortress amid the unrest of the Revolt of the Comuneros, after it had already lost its original strategic importance.