It was a Roman observation post and a fortress of Arab origin in the 15th century, but also became the temporary residence of the Catholic Queen Isabella when it passed into the hands of the Kingdom of Castile. Its last use was as a civil guard barracks until the end of the 20th century, when it was considered for conversion into the National Military Institute Museum. Later it was thought that it could become the Museum of Democratic Memory.
The imposing Castle of Maqueda, also known as Castillo de la Vera, in the town of the same name, Toledo, will eventually have nothing to do with all this, Socialist Mayor Andrés Congosto has confirmed. elDiario.es Castilla-La Mancha. The owner, the Ministry of the Interior, held a series of auctions for 12 years, and the last one sold for 3.2 million euros. The fortress, which is listed as a Historic and Artistic Monument, will be turned into a 4-star hotel in the countryside.
The company that bought the hotel is Santa Cruz de Tenerife-based hotel group América de Constracciones y Turismo (Amcotour), which plans to transform it into a four-star hotel. The business group has several facilities both in the Canary Islands and on the Peninsula. In fact, there is a Senorio de Ormillos Hotel Restaurant in the town of the same name in the province of Burgos, also in the old castle.
The project to turn Fort Makeda into a Museum of Democratic Memory was proposed by the City Council and the Manuel Azaña Association to Fernando Martínez López, Secretary of State for Democratic Memory. At a conference held in Moncloa in August 2023. And the mayor emphasized that the Ministry of Interior liked the idea. All auctions were so quiet that two years ago, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca reclaimed it as a national heritage site and even vowed never to put it up for auction again. That didn’t happen.
Your destiny will be very different from now. The National Security Infrastructure Equipment Management (GIESE) after the central government abandoned the idea of relocating the Civil Guard Museum, despite an investment of over 9 million euros. he put it up for auction on various occasionsinitially for 9.7 million euros, which was then reduced in stages until reaching the sales price of 3.2 million euros.
Sales price lower than investment amount
The Mayor then pointed out that in order to develop the Democratic Memory Project, its purpose could be transferred to the Autonomous Government of Castilla-La Mancha or the City Council itself, and that it was all a matter of “political will.” Now, Congost does not understand that such a huge investment was made and sold for almost three times less than the price. “It would have been a political issue,” he points out.
“I don’t like that the castle will be completely abandoned and will not end up being sold and turned into a museum. It’s a little frustrating, but at least it won’t be bought by a private owner and will be turned into a country hotel. This will revitalize the town and boost tourism and jobs,” the mayor stressed. At this time, the Home Office has not contacted the City Council and the sale is yet to be signed in front of a notary public.
According to the technical sheet, the property has one basement floor and three floors above ground, with a construction area of 3,523.8 square meters. Security will continue to be provided by private security forces. Visitors there can only see the outside of the 3.5 meter wide ramparts. “They don’t know anything from the inside. A few years ago they opened it and showed the finished interior with the museum complex complete,” explains the mayor.
The history of the castle dates back to at least the 10th century. Acquired by King Alfonso VI, it passed into the hands of Alfonso Yañez in 1153, and in 1157 was given to the Knights of Calatrava. In the 15th century, it was almost completely rebuilt, honoring only the Tower of Palasuelos, where the Catholic Queen Isabella is said to have stayed.
The castle’s plan is rectangular and occupies two different levels of land. Its walls are made of masonry and ashlar in the openings and corners, with few open openings. These are protected by moats on two of their sides and three circular towers in the south corner and in the center of the east canvas. Later, another tower was added.
One of the most notable features of this fort’s defense system is that the battlements are arranged in pairs. A pair of melons, built of masonry and brick, with pyramids placed above them, rise above the cut-stone parapet, which has loopholes here and there.
The interior retains little of its original structure.
The main door faces north and is formed by a large semicircular voussoir arch, surmounted by a thin alphys made of pearl decoration, supported by two corbels of vegetal decoration, in the center of which is housed the coat of arms of the Cárdenas and Henriques couples, the authors of the reconstruction of the fortress. This entrance has circular and cross-shaped loopholes and is protected by fine machining of cut stone and brick.
The interior has preserved little of its original structure. The tower retains its floor, brick vault, and spiral staircase. However, the old room, which had completely collapsed, was rebuilt to house the offices of the local Civil Guard barracks, opening an opening in the east wing and narrowing the central patio with an attached building.
There are important ruins within the castle that contain the ruins of the various civilizations that passed through this settlement. It remains to be seen how the new owners will integrate this great cultural heritage site with future tourism uses.
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