Castillo-de-Petrer

 

The castle is Petrer’s most iconic monument. Outlines against the sky, it stands on top of a hill surrounded by the town’s historic centre and overlooks  most of the Vinalopó valley. The Islamic inhabitants of the town of Bitrir, the Arab name for Petrer, built the fortress in the late 12th century. Barely fifty years later they were forced to surrender to advancing troops from Castile and Aragon, and the town became part of the Kingdom of Valencia from the 14th century onwards.

If you visit the castle you will see that it has two areas: the upper enclosure or citadel, with a free-standing tower, the great hall and the dungeon, and the lower enclosure or esplanade, where there was a settlement defended by an outer stone and mortar wall. This wall reveals a final and exciting surprise: cave houses. This unique form of living accommodation dates from the early 20th century, when local people built their homes by setting them into the walls.

Opening hours:

Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00 (Tuesday to Friday from the Tourist Info Office or the Museum Dámaso Alonso. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from the Castle’s gate).

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