Yacimiento prehistórico del Cerro de la Encantada

The prehistoric site of Cerro de la Encantada is a fortified Bronze Age hilltop settlement in the municipality of Granátula de Calatrava, in the province of Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha. Also known locally as Los Castillejos, it lies roughly three kilometres from the town centre and ranks among the most significant reference points for prehistoric archaeology in central Spain.

Where exactly is the site located?

The settlement crowns a hill almost 800 metres above sea level, overlooking the Jabalón river valley. That position was no accident. From here, its Bronze Age inhabitants oversaw routes linking the southern Meseta with Andalusia and the Levant, including old drove roads that carried livestock south toward Sierra Morena across the Alcudia valley, and others heading toward the Sierra de Alcaraz range. Whoever held this crossing point controlled the movement of goods and raw materials across the region.

What has been uncovered here?

Excavations carried out between 1977 and 1991 revealed an extensive and well-preserved settlement layout. Cerro de la Encantada is regarded as one of the key sites for defining a distinct cultural phase of the region, known as the Bronze of La Mancha, set apart both from the Argaric culture of southeastern Iberia and from the mound-fortress settlements, or motillas, common elsewhere in the area. Occupation began around 1700 BCE and, with interruptions, lasted roughly eight centuries.

How was the settlement defended?

The scale of its defences is what sets Cerro de la Encantada apart. Successive rings of walls, strengthened with bastions, enclosed the settlement, and entry was possible only through eight separate gates. Behind the walls, archaeologists have uncovered residential blocks, silos used to store grain, and a sizeable cistern — possibly a rock-cut cave — built to hold water reserves, a vital resource on such a dry, exposed hilltop.

Were there also ritual and burial areas?

Yes. Excavators have identified a ceremonial area with an altar, together with graves scattered within the settlement itself, a layout typical of this regional cultural phase. Finds also point to contact between the inhabitants and traders from the eastern Mediterranean, drawn by the metal deposits in the surrounding mountains. Taken together, the evidence suggests the settlement worked as a hub for producing and distributing metal goods.

How can visitors reach Cerro de la Encantada?

Entry to the site is free, though the plot is fenced, and visits are usually arranged as guided tours — it is worth booking ahead, since there are no fixed opening hours. Access follows a signposted track roughly 1.6 kilometres long, branching off the CM-413 road between Almagro and Calzada de Calatrava. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, since the ground is uneven in parts and the hilltop offers little shade.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is the site? Cerro de la Encantada is a Bronze Age settlement, occupied from around 1700 BCE for roughly eight centuries.

Is there an entrance fee? No, entry is free, though the site is fenced and usually visited as part of a guided tour.

What can visitors see there? Remains of several defensive wall lines with bastions, access gates, storage silos, a water cistern, and a ritual area with an altar.

How do you get to the site? Via the CM-413 road between Almagro and Calzada de Calatrava, followed by a signposted track of about 1.6 kilometres.