The film director Ridley Scott chose this architectural complex to recreate the 12th century crusades in his film Kingdom of Heaven with faces like those of Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Liam Neeson and Jeremy Irons. It was not the only audiovisual production in which this monument shone, as it witnessed a turbulent love story in an Aragonese town in Crónica del alba. Valentina (Antonio José Betancor, 1982), learned about the confrontation between the geniuses Cervantes and Shakespeare in Miguel and William (Inés París, 2007) and became a prison in The Ministry of Time.

Article of Irene Mireia Vera Pérez.

Even so, it is not necessary to resort to fiction to discover that the castle is based on an impressive historical and cultural legacy that deserves its recognition as an Asset of Cultural Interest and National Monument. Located in the town of Loarre (province of Huesca, in Aragon), it can boast of being the best preserved Romanesque fortress on the European continent.

It was founded in the 11th century, with an ancient core built under the mandate of monarch Sancho Garcés III of Pamplona. It was one of the most important enclaves within the Aragonese defensive system due to its strategic position on the slope of a steep summit at 1,070 meters high. Its location on the border line with Muslim Iberia and the dominance it had over the Hoya de Huesca plain were decisive during the period of the Christian reconquest of Bolea.

Spaces such as the royal building, the chapel, the parade ground, the Queen’s tower, the military rooms and the albarrana tower or watchtower date back to the first stage of the Loarre castle. In the year 1017 and with Sancho Ramírez of Aragón as king, the castle acquired its current configuration and became a bridge between the religious and military spheres with the founding of a monastery of canons of Saint Augustine inside. The Tower of Homage, the Church of Saint Peter and a crypt in which the relics of Saint Demetrius rest also belong to this period. However, the monastic functions of this place were later revoked by his son, Peter I of Aragon.

WARNING EYE

In addition to presenting its original appearance, the castle is a well of curiosities and secrets only for the most observant. The first is found as soon as you enter: carved on the columns are three monkeys, one of them covering its eyes, another covering its mouth and another covering its ears as ancient emojis to symbolize that no one could talk about what was happening within the four walls of this complex.

The stairs at the entrance to the castle have wide steps on the sides, so that each castle guard knew exactly where they should stand. Thus, at the door of the crypt there is a small carved dog that guards this area. And if this is not enough, it is time to ask about the legend of the ghosts that live in the castle…

Book your guided tour now and don’t miss these and other secrets of Castle of Loarre, the best preserved castle in Europe