Berrueco Castle

Located in a depopulated area of the municipality of Torredelcampo, the Castle of Berrueco stands next to an old and historic crossroads: Jaén to Arjona and Iliturgi to Martos. It is of great strategic value, and located between the towns of Torredelcampo and Fuerte del Rey. In the Middle Ages it became the most important castle in the area of Jaén.

The fortress was built on El Cerro San Antón, a hill with a dominant rocky outcrop. The area was settled from the Iberian era to the period of Gothic domination, and this continued during the "taifas" (Moorish territorial division). It was built in the 12th century, during the Almohad occupation and subsequently remodelled, after the Castilian conquest (1228), until it achieved its definitive appearance.

It is structured in two clearly differentiated enclosures, the upper enclosure which predominates and is defended and bordered by three towers. They are located at the corners and in an enclosing wall, two of them are circular and the third is square-shaped. The lower enclosure occupies a fairly steep slope which makes it easy to defend. Some stretches of the wall still maintain the parapets, defended by arrow-holes and battlements, and on the north side there are still remains of machicolations.

The Castle of Berrueco has been restored and there is also a small outdoor chapel that certifies that the town has seen better times.