Valladolid information
Medina del Campo: the Castle of La Mota
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. (till 18:00 in summer). Sundays and public holidays: from 11:00 to 14:00 h.
It is one of the largest castles in Castile. It was used as a fortress and in its time was a strategic military centre.
The plan of the castle has a trapezoid shape. The main entrance has a fixed bridge which in the past was a drawbridge. Once over the bridge, we can observe an arch with two turrets and the royal coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs. The interior is made up of four towers with a courtyard, where the living quarters of the building are distributed. It was the archive of the Crown during the reign of Enrique IV. It was given a military use and was also an artillery magazine, due to its enormous dimensions. It was one of the objectives of the royalists in the uprising of the 'Comuneros' in the 16th century. It was used as a prison of illustrious figures during the 16th and 17th centuries, and its grounds were home to Juana la Loca. In the post-war period following the civil war, from 1942 onwards, it was used as a training school.
Services:
Courses / Workshops, Guided tour, Hostelry.
Admissions: the entrance fee is free. Groups must schedule tours beforehand. It is possible to take guided tours of the basement.
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo de España, TURESPAÑA.