Belalcázar

Belalcázar was the seat of the Counts of Belalcázar, a branch of the Zúñiga family — one of the most powerful noble houses in late medieval Castile. The first Count, Gutierre de Sotomayor, built the castle in the mid-15th century. The family's power and ambition can be read directly in the tower: at 50 metres it is the tallest castle keep in Spain, a statement of wealth and status visible across the flat Los Pedroches terrain.

The Counts of Belalcázar were involved in the patronage of Columbus's third voyage in 1498. After the family's fortunes declined in the 17th century, the town dwindled in importance, leaving the castle intact through sheer neglect.

The Castle of Belalcázar (Castillo de los Zúñiga) is the reason to come: the rectangular keep, 50 metres tall and nearly perfect in its preservation, dominates the skyline from every approach. It is one of the tallest and most imposing late-medieval towers in Spain. The castle enclosure, with its walls and towers, is also largely intact.

The Convent of Santa Clara, a 15th-century foundation of the Zúñiga family, contains the family tombs and a notable Gothic cloister — one of the most important examples of late Gothic conventual architecture in Andalucía. The village below is typical of the Los Pedroches dehesa region: granite-built houses, pig-rearing, and cheesemaking.

Belalcázar is 115 km north of Córdoba on the N-502. A car is necessary. The castle and convent are the main sites; both can be visited.

The village has basic services. The Los Pedroches cheese (queso de Los Pedroches, made from raw sheep's milk) is sold locally. Combine with a visit to Guadalupe (45 km) for a full day in the northern Extremadura-Andalucía border area.