Castle of Atzeneta

The Castle of Atzeneta is a fortress located near the town of Atzeneta del Maestrat in Spain, originally constructed by Muslim builders during the 11th century. Its foundation incorporated earlier Roman remains, demonstrating a long-standing strategic use of this site.

During the medieval period, the castle belonged to the domain of the nearby Castle of Culla. Following the Christian reconquest led by King James I of Aragon, the fortress changed hands as part of a negotiated exchange: the Castle of Atzeneta, along with the Castle of les Coves, was offered in return for the town of Morella. Ownership was then transferred to the nobleman Blasco de Alagón. The castle then passed through several lines of inheritance, including to Constanza de Alagón and Guillem de Anglesola, and subsequently to their daughter Mergelina de Anglesola. Mergelina’s marriage linked the castle to the Queralt and Cervelló families, lords of Santa Coloma de Queralt.

In 1387, Pere de Queralt, a descendant of this lineage, sold the castle to the Master of Montesa, marking another significant ownership change. Over time, the castle’s role as a military stronghold diminished, and historical accounts note its decline. The Crónica de Viciana documents that the fortress eventually fell into ruin, and the local inhabitants constructed a church dedicated to Our Lady of Hope and Saint Sebastian on its former site.

Throughout its active use, the castle’s primary purpose was defensive. Positioned about three kilometers from Atzeneta del Maestrat at roughly 500 meters above sea level, it guarded the Atzeneta mountain pass. This location controlled the main access route through the Llucena mountain ranges and the ravines known as Les Torrocelles and Mas d’Avall.

Since January 28, 2003, the site has been protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) by the Generalitat Valenciana, recognizing its historical and cultural importance.