In our country we can find beautiful castles that have a special charm and that are still very well preserved. One of them is the Castle of Loarre, located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, in the town with which it shares its name. It is a defensive castle located in the upper area, dominating the plain of La Hoya de Huesca.
El castle dates from the XNUMXth century and it is in good condition. Its construction was ordered by King Sancho III to defend the area and organize attacks against the town of Bolea. It is located in a place that was of great importance, near the Pyrenees and dominating the plain. Today it is a very touristy castle that attracts hundreds of people each year.
History of the Castle of Loarre
This castle seems to have originated in the XNUMXth century, when a tower was built on this elevated area to show the ground that had been won from the Muslims. But the real castle was built under the order of Sancho III, who finally conquered the surrounding lands. Throughout the XNUMXth century it passed into the hands of Ramiro I and it was when the keep was created and a nucleus appeared in the surroundings of the castle. Later a monastery would be created with the order of Saint Augustine, so a defensive castle would also become a religious center. It is possible to distinguish the oldest parts from those that date from later centuries, since these are made of well cut and polished ashlar masonry from Jaca.
The walls
On many occasions the walls are not preserved to this day, but in this castle we can see the walls that surround its perimeter in the eastern, northern and southern parts. In the west, the castle is already protected naturally by the mountain. The wall has several circular towers and a quadrangular wall. In the area of the wall you can see the entrance to the entire enclosure, being a simple arch flanked by two towers. The other door that is older is in the quadrangular tower.
The exterior of the castle
Although it is common to walk around the inside of the castle, it is also very interesting to walk around the outside of the castle to discover it from all its perspectives. it's possible see the apse of the church, which is divided into three parts by lines with a checkered pattern typical of the area. The Romanesque style is quite simple, although we can see many interesting details such as those of the capitals. If we have a camera with a good lens, we can see all the details in these capitals, with their mermaids and birds. In fact, the beautiful decoration of the capitals is one of its main attractions, since you can find many and very different ones. The vegetal motifs are very typical of this period and can be seen in many of the capitals. You can also see from the outside an access door to the castle with three semicircular arches.
The albarrana tower
The purpose of the albarrana tower is not very clear, due to the age of the entire structure. This tower is prior to the wall and is located in the area where the population that later moved settled. It is thought that its main function was defensive and that it could later be attached to the wall by wooden walkways, although it is not known with certainty. It is a very simple rectangular structure that stands out with a small dome at the top and below it there are small windows.
The church of San Pedro
The church of San Pedro has the Romanesque style typical of the Jaca area and highlights the religious importance that the castle had. At the entrance there are some capitals with beautiful plant motifs. The church has a nave with two sections and a semicircular apse. You can see a beautiful hemispherical vault and the typical Jaca checkerboard. In the church you also have to pay attention to the capitals, since many of them have figures of men with beasts that are symbolic.
tower of tribute
This keep stands out for its great height, so it stands out on the structure of the castle. The tower has a fortified appearance and only has small windows in the structure. It is possible to enter it from the third floor and in it you can see a large fireplace to combat winter.
Parade
This parade ground is not really big, but its size may change over time. The castle became not as defensive as it was religious, so this courtyard was no longer so important.