Loarre Castle
| Loarre Castle | |
|---|---|
| Castillo de Loarre | |
| Huesca Near Loarre in Spain |
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 Loarre Castle
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| Coordinates | 42°18′56″N 0°37′27″W / 42.31556°N 0.62417°WCoordinates: 42°18′56″N 0°37′27″W / 42.31556°N 0.62417°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Restored |
| Website | www |
| Site history | |
| Built | 11th Century, Wall built in 1287 |
| Built by | Sancho Ramírez |
| In use | Circa 1071 - |
The Castle of Loarre is a Romanesque Castle and Abbey located near the town of the same name, Huesca Province in the Aragon autonomous region of Spain. It is one of the oldest castles in Spain.
The complex was built largely during the 11th and 12th centuries, when its position on the frontier between Christian and Muslim lands gave it strategic importance. The first of the two major building programs began ca. 1020, when Sancho el Mayor (r. 1063–94) reconquered the surrounding lands from the Muslims.
After 1070, Loarre became increasingly important. In 1073, King Sancho installed a community of Augustinian canons, and it was from Loarre that he prepared for the conquest of Huesca in 1094. In 1097, however, his successor, Peter I of Aragon and Navarre, donated all the goods of Loarre to a new royal monastery at Montearagon. This evidence suggests that the second major construction program was undertaken between 1073 and 1097, and much building evidently does date from this period. By comparison with other monuments, however, it is also clear that the building and decorative program continued into the 12th century.
The location appears in the 2005 epic film Kingdom of Heaven.
The castle's location on a rocky outcrop affected the layout; it was not possible to have one unified structure, and like many castles Loarre was a collection of buildings bounded by curtain walls. Originally the internal plan included two towers and a chapel behind several curtain walls. Towards the end of the 11th century an additional chapel was built in Romanesque style just outside the castle walls.
The outermost walls of the castle and their eight towers were erected in the 13th or 14th century. The church and castle have been the subject of numerous restorations, a major one in 1913 and subsequent ones, particularly during the 1970s, have resulted in the rebuilding of many walls and towers that had fallen into disrepair.
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Wikipedia