Burgalimar Castle in Baños de la Encina is the oldest castle still standing in Spain. Built in 967 AD under Caliph Al-Hakam II, its original rammed-earth walls and 15 towers survive largely as they were constructed over a thousand years ago.
The fortress stretches roughly 100 metres long and 50 metres wide, with towers at close intervals around the full perimeter. Known as the “Fortress of the Seven Kings” after seven Spanish monarchs ruled from within its walls, it is also considered the second oldest castle in Europe, behind only Château de Doué-la-Fontaine in France.
Stick around for the detail, or if you’re ready to plan, check out our full guide to Spain’s oldest castle.
What Makes It Special
The castle is built from rammed earth (tapial), where layers of earth, lime, and gravel were compressed into wooden moulds to create walls that hardened to near-stone durability. Most Andalusian castles were built centuries later using quarried stone, which makes Burgalimar’s survival all the more unusual.
You can still walk along sections of the original curtain wall. Up close, the layers of the 10th-century construction are visible in the surface, each one packed down by hand over a thousand years ago.
What Is Europe’s Oldest Castle?
The title is debated. Château de Doué-la-Fontaine in France, built around 950 AD, is generally considered the oldest castle still standing in Europe.
In Germany, the Meersburg on Lake Constance claims a 7th-century origin, but it was heavily rebuilt over the centuries.
Burgalimar’s claim to being the oldest in Spain, and the second oldest in Europe, rests on the fact that its original 10th-century walls and towers survive largely as constructed. A marble inscription plaque, now in the Archaeological Museum of Madrid, records the construction date as 967 AD.
Visiting Burgalimar
I drove from Jaén city in about 40 minutes and had the entire place to myself. Visits are by guided tour only, with adults paying €6.50 and children €3.50 for a 45-minute tour conducted in Spanish.
From the top of the turrets, the views stretch across olive groves and the valley below. The castle itself is fairly bare inside, an open parade ground without much to explore beyond the walls and towers, but the scale of it and the setting make the drive worthwhile. The castle is just one piece of a province full of surprises, and our things to do in Jaén guide covers the rest.
Baños de la Encina’s town centre deserves a wander once you’re done with the castle. The main square is genuinely beautiful, and there’s a curio shop near the entrance that closes from 2 to 5pm.
For the full guide, including how to get there and what else to see nearby, read Burgalimar Castle: Spain’s oldest castle. The province has more than castles. Is Cazorla National Park worth visiting? covers Spain’s largest protected area, about 90 minutes east.
