Sadaba Castle

Sádaba Castle lies, in a village by the same name, in the province of Zaragoza in Spain.

On a little hill in the village of Sádaba lies one of the more interesting castles in Aragon. Sádaba Castle has a rigorous geometric ground plan; a rectangle of about 1000 square meters of space, which separates it significantly from so many castles in this region where the irregularity prevails. Although there does exist a document dating back to 1125, by King Alfonso I, that mentions "the new castle that was build in the land of Sádaba", it's unlikely that it refers to this present building. The architectural style of the castle reveals that it must have been built in the first half of the 13th century. The lands of Sádaba where then held by the Alascún family against King Jaime I of Aragón and Sancho VII of Navarre. It was possibly the last one who took control of the village around 1223 and who ordered the present castle to be build.

The castle is equipped with seven rectangular towers but no keep. Four of the towers are located in the corners of the castle; the other three in between. One of these three also guards the gate. Behind the gate is a bend passage through a small watch area, which is evidence of Muslim techniques incorporated into Christian ones. Inside the castle is a courtyard, presently empty, with an underground rain tank in its center and a chapel in a corner. At its sides are the remains of two large halls, which probably were two stories high.

Surprisingly there are no known historical facts about the castle. Why it was build is still a question, as does the reason why it so different from the normal Mediterranean style of castle building. It may have been a residence for monks or some Military Order. In any case, its abandonment has made it possible to see the castle as it was build in the 13th century, without any additions or reforms.

When I visited the castle was closed, so I haven't been inside. There were no signs of any use or eventual opening times. There was however a small panel explaining some of the history of the castle. A beautiful and elegant little castle, this one.

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Sadaba Castle

Sádaba Castle lies, in a village by the same name, in the province of Zaragoza in Spain.

On a little hill in the village of Sádaba lies one of the more interesting castles in Aragon. Sádaba Castle has a rigorous geometric ground plan; a rectangle of about 1000 square meters of space, which separates it significantly from so many castles in this region where the irregularity prevails. Although there does exist a document dating back to 1125, by King Alfonso I, that mentions "the new castle that was build in the land of Sádaba", it's unlikely that it refers to this present building. The architectural style of the castle reveals that it must have been built in the first half of the 13th century. The lands of Sádaba where then held by the Alascún family against King Jaime I of Aragón and Sancho VII of Navarre. It was possibly the last one who took control of the village around 1223 and who ordered the present castle to be build.

The castle is equipped with seven rectangular towers but no keep. Four of the towers are located in the corners of the castle; the other three in between. One of these three also guards the gate. Behind the gate is a bend passage through a small watch area, which is evidence of Muslim techniques incorporated into Christian ones. Inside the castle is a courtyard, presently empty, with an underground rain tank in its center and a chapel in a corner. At its sides are the remains of two large halls, which probably were two stories high.

Surprisingly there are no known historical facts about the castle. Why it was build is still a question, as does the reason why it so different from the normal Mediterranean style of castle building. It may have been a residence for monks or some Military Order. In any case, its abandonment has made it possible to see the castle as it was build in the 13th century, without any additions or reforms.

When I visited the castle was closed, so I haven't been inside. There were no signs of any use or eventual opening times. There was however a small panel explaining some of the history of the castle. A beautiful and elegant little castle, this one.

Gallery

Details
Hits: 6677