Castle of La Muela

Castle of La Muela
Castillo de la Muela
General information
Address	Cerro Calderico
Town or city	Consuegra
Country	Spain
Coordinates	39°27′10″N3°36′28″W / 39.45278°N 3.60778°W / 39.45278; -3.60778
Owner	Ayuntamiento de Consuegra

The Castle of La Muela (Spanish: Castillo de la Muela) is a castle in Consuegra, Spain. It was a stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller during the Middle Ages.

History and description

The castle tops off the Cerro Calderico, that also hosts a number of windmills, ^[1] dominating over Consuegra.

Gifted by Alfonso VIII to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1183 along its dominions, ^[2] the most relevant features of the fortification are dated after the donation, largely a number of expansions and restorations in the 12th and 13th centuries. ^[1] An hermitage was built in the castle in the late 15th century. ^[1] The castle endured notable damage during the Peninsular War. ^[1] It became a municipal property in 1962. ^[1]

The whole Cerro Calderico—along the castle and the windmills—was declared Bien de Interés Cultural under the protection status of "historical site" in 2008. ^[3]

References

1. Consejería de Cultura: "Acuerdo de 19/02/2008, Consejo de Gobierno, por el que se declara bien de interés cultural, con categoría de sitio histórico, el cerro Calderico y sus molinos, localizado en Consuegra (Toledo)". Diario Oficial de Castilla-La Mancha (49): 6319–6321. 5 March 2008. ISSN   1575-0051.
2. Barquero Goñi, Carlos. "La repoblación hospitalaria en la Corona de Castilla (siglos XII-XVI)". Historia Instituciones Documentos. 24. Seville: Universidad de Sevilla. ISSN   0210-7716.
3. "Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha aprueba la Declaración de BIC del 'Cerro Calderico y sus molinos' en Consuegra (Toledo)". Europa Press . 20 February 2008.