Badajoz province is a good castle-hopping destination, with over fifty castles and citadels to choose from. Castillo de Montemolín, situated in the region’s southernmost area, is a recommended little detour for castle lovers travelling to Extremadura from Seville.
This short article includes a general overview, practical info and some personal tips to help you plan your trip to Montemolín and visit its citadel.
Table of contents
About Castillo de Montemolín
Dating back to the second half of the twelfth century, this citadel (alcazaba) was built by the Almohades as part of their strategy to create a defensive line throughout Badajoz province to keep Christian troops at bay.
The citadel has numerous small square towers along its wall. It underwent a significant transformation under the Christian Order which conquered the area a century later. A semicircular tower was added to the southern side and a large keep was erected to house the Order’s headquarters. The citadel fell into disrepair in the sixteenth century and has been in a ruinous state since.
Castillo de Montemolín today
While the citadel is still not in the best condition, some repair and excavation works have been carried out. The wall and the towers have been strengthened, the central cistern and the main gate have been restored, and stairs have been installed in the keep leading up to a small viewpoint and down to a lower-ground floor space (possibly a dungeon).
Visiting Castillo de Montemolín
This castle isn’t really publicised and is tricky to visit, mainly due to the lack of trustworthy information available. Google Maps shows Castillo de Montemolín as ‘open 24 hours’ but this is incorrect. The citadel is, in fact, always locked and unattended.
The only way to access the citadel is by getting hold of a set of keys. You can ask for the keys at the town hall (Ayuntamiento), located in Plaza de la Constitución, or at the local bars (as per public online reviews from previous visitors). But bear in mind that bars may not open before 10am and that the town hall may close in the afternoon.
I’ve visited Montemolín during an overnight stay. Since nobody knows better than locals, I asked about the citadel to the person who served us breakfast at our accommodation (Casa Rural El Águila). They happened to have keys to the citadel and were happy for us to borrow them.
Bear in mind that the citadel is not an accessible place to visit. The path up to the citadel has no handrails or any other safety feature. Inside the citadel, the terrain is uneven underfoot, with rocks sprouting from the ground here and there. It is not recommended for anyone with mobility issues.
How to get to Castillo de Montemolín
Where is Montemolín and how to get there
Montemolín is located in Tentudía, the southernmost area in Badajoz province. It’s a short detour away from the A-66/E-803 motorway running though Extremadura from north to south. Small towns Fuente de Cantos and Monesterio are both a short 15-minute drive away.
Parking
If you’re not staying in Montemolín overnight, park as near the citadel as you can and walk to the centre to try and get hold of a set of keys. There’s free on-site parking behind the church (Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Granada), which is right opposite the castle.
Walking up to Castillo de Montemolín
You’ll see the path leading up to the citadel from the parking area behind the church. Simply cross the road and follow the path, which will take you around the hill and up to the citadel.
Please note that the road to cross from the church has no traffic lights or pedestrian crossings. Heavy traffic is unlikely but the road is used by big vehicles and trucks, so use caution when crossing.
Castillo de Montemolín: highlights
The keep
A Christian addition to the original Moorish structure, the keep is located on the western part of the citadel. Some metal stairs lead down to an underground space thought to have served as a dungeon. The viewing platform at the top level offers some great views of the surroundings.
Cistern remains
The remains of two cisterns can be seen within the castle enclosure.
The views
These are, more or less, the views you get in all four directions:
To the west
To the east
To the north
To the south
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Irene Corchado Resmella
Hi! I’m Irene (/ee-REH-neh/). Long since settled in the UK, I explore my Spanish home region of Extremadura with an inquisitive mind, a sharp eye, and the duality that comes with being both a local and a visitor. Then I write about it here to help you discover this beautiful yet overlooked part of Spain. If you have any questions after reading this article, submit a comment below! Read more about me.
