Castillo de la Encomienda de Víboras

Castillo de la Encomienda de Víboras is a 9th-century fortification in Martos, Jaén, positioned strategically on a rocky promontory near the Víboras River and an adjacent hydroelectric dam. The castle's name derives from the Arabic "Bib-Bora" meaning "Door of Bora," referencing an ancient Turdetan city. Belonging to the Order of Calatrava from 1228, it formed part of a dense defensive network protecting and controlling the vital border zone between Muslim and Christian territories until the conquest of Alcalá la Real in 1311. The fortress features a large square tower with rounded corners at its highest point, built directly on rock with two floors and a terrace, defended on the south by protective walls while northern cliffs provided natural fortification. Abandoned since the 16th century, it remains a designated Cultural Interest Monument.