Castle La Mota

Castle La Mota dominates the town of Medina del Campo from an elevated hill—mota meaning "mound" in Spanish—overlooking the surrounding landscape from Valladolid province. Initial fortifications dating to 1080 were replaced in 1440 by a grander castle commissioned by King Juan II of Castile and built by the Fonseca family. Constructed from local red brick with stone details, the fortress features a trapezoidal interior plan with four towers, a square keep, and a substantial outer barbican. The castle witnessed the succession dispute between Isabella of Castile and Juana la Beltraneja, after which the crown reinforced it with artillery bastions in 1475. Protected as a National Monument since 1904 and designated a Cultural Heritage site, the castle now hosts courses, conferences, and cultural activities alongside tourism.