Monzón Castle

Monzón Castle

 

Location: Aragon

Constructed: 10th century

 

Description of Monzon Castle

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.

 

History

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.