Castillo de Escalona is a grand fortress-palace situated on a 25-meter elevation beside the Alberche River in Escalona, Toledo province, Spain. Originally a Moorish fortification conquered by King Alfonso VI, it became a strategic base for medieval campaigns against Toledo. By the 14th century, King Juan II granted the castle to Don Álvaro de Luna, who transformed it into a lavish palace combining Gothic architecture with intricate Mudéjar interior work. The fortress features eight massive Albarrán towers of Arab origin linked by stone arches, and a keep exceeding 20 meters in height with sophisticated internal access systems. After centuries of decline, the castle underwent restoration in the 19th century following damage from the Napoleonic Wars. Opened to public visitation in 2025 following recent municipal acquisition, it represents a remarkable example of Iberian medieval military and palatial architecture spanning multiple centuries.
