Our country has a large number of monuments and places that arouse great interest to those interested in the culture, landscapes or history of Spain. Thanks to this, many tourists arrive and turn the nation into the second most visited in the world. Among the Spanish legends, there is that of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as the Cid Campeador. His story includes his struggles, victories or exile, but also his sword, Tizona, which was hidden in an impressive castle from the time of the Templars. A fortress declared a National Monument and Asset of Cultural Interest.
This is the Monzón castle, in Huesca, one of the many places that Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar passed through. It is thought that in this building, he left his famous sword Tizona, which has since been guarded in the fortress by the Templars.
A mystery that is part of the history of this castle, dated to the 10th century and is of Muslim originalthough it would soon change hands and after the period of the Reconquista, it came under Christian control. The Order of the Temple later acquired its property and made important modifications to its structure, such as adding walls, towers, stables or bedrooms.
History of the Castle of Monzón, declared a National Monument of Spain and which hid the sword of the Cid Campeador
The castle of Monzón was headquarters of the main command of the Templars of the Crown of Aragon since the year 1143. King James I spent part of his childhood in this castle. The appearance it presents today corresponds to the 18th century, which was when it became a true military fortress.
In itself, it has been a strategic point in numerous conflicts, including the War of Independence, the Spanish Civil War or the War of the Reapersjust as they left an indelible mark on the fort.
One of the most notable parts is known as Tower of James I, for which according to tradition, it housed Prince Jaime during his stay in the castle with the Knights Templar. It has two floors and a terrace. The ground floor is accessed through the guardhouse attached to the building in the last military remodeling. But it also highlights the tower of tribute (so called because it is the last refuge of the defenders) or the Chapter House.
Monzón Castle: guided tours, hours for the general public and ticket prices
Currently, the Monzón Castle can be visited. It opens its doors on Tuesday afternoons, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and from Wednesday to Sunday with the same evening hours and in the mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The cost of general admission is 3.50 euros and guided tours are also available.
For its part, Monzón is a municipality in the province of Huesca. It is located just over an hour from the city of Huesca and has around 17,000 inhabitants.