Location: Aragon
Constructed: 10th century
The Monzón Castle is a castle-fortress of Muslim origin located in the town of Monzón (Huesca). Its moment of greatest political relevance occurred during the domination of the Order of the Temple, but as it is located in a strategic geographical location and is difficult to conquer, it has been a place of warlike interest in all the wars that took place in the territory from the 10th century to the 19th century. twentieth century. The current castle shows both its use for about 1000 years and the reflection of the military architecture of that period, mainly that developed by the Order of the Temple and the military architecture of the Modern Age.
Of Arab origin (10th century) it passed into Christian hands in 1089
when the town was conquered by Sancho Ramírez. In 1143 the castle was
handed over to the Templar order and was completed with the addition of
walls, towers, stables, a refectory and bedrooms. King James I lived
during his childhood in the fortress protected by the Templars.
In 1309, when the order was given to dissolve the temple, the castle was
besieged by the army of James II until it capitulated.
During the
Reaper War, it suffered two sieges. In 1642 and 1643, it was
definitively taken by royal troops on December 5.
The fortress
continued to maintain garrisons until the 19th century, which caused the
logical evolution of its walls and defenses. Its definitive exterior
appearance is from the 18th century. During the War of Independence it
was taken by the French troops of Marshal Suchet and liberated on
February 15, 1814 by the Spanish Army of General Copons thanks to a
stratagem due to the Spanish soldier and adventurer Juan Van Halen,
later lieutenant general, who by The same procedure had achieved the
capture by the Spanish of the squares of Lérida on the 14th and
Mequinenza on the 12th.
In 2017, emergency works were carried out
due to strong storms in March, which caused a moat of the Castle to
collapse. The works lasted six months and cost 642,000 euros. The
Cultural Heritage Institute of Spain paid for and supervised the works.