Castillo de Los Molares

Castillo de Los Molares in Seville province was constructed in the early 14th century under royal patronage to defend the Banda Morisca frontier between the Christian kingdoms and Granada. King Fernando IV granted Los Molares to Lope Gutiérrez de Toledo between 1310 and 1336, establishing this fortified position to help repopulate and secure the strategic borderlands. The castle preserves most of its original brick and ashlar walls with battle crenellations, a distinctive irregular pentagonal tower, and several vaulted buildings arranged around a central parade ground. From 1573 onward, the castle notably housed poet Baltasar del Alcázar among its owners. Today the fortress actively serves the community, accommodating the municipal library, cultural institutions, and civic offices while remaining open to public tours held on the first Sunday of each month, connecting visitors with seven centuries of Andalusian history.