Castillo de Larache

Castillo de Larache stands on a low hill northwest of Castillejo Castle in Murcia, positioned about 300 metres northwest of Monteagudo near Cabezo de Torres. Most probably constructed by Abu ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Mardanis—the legendary 'Wolf King' who ruled Murcia from 1147 to 1172—the castle served as a fortified palace or farm, likely called Hisn al-Faray in Arabic. Together with nearby Monteagudo and Castillejo castles, it formed a defensive network protecting the city of Murcia. The fortress likely fell to the Almohad invasion in 1172 as the Taifa of Murcia collapsed. Today the castle remains ruined, featuring two concentric rectangles with collapsed interior structures. Restoration efforts are underway to develop a cultural park incorporating all three defensive fortifications, reconnecting visitors with Murcia's medieval military heritage.