Mombeltrán Castle, also known as the Castle of the Dukes of Alburquerque, rises majestically in the Sierra de Gredos mountains and controlled the Puerto del Pico pass and ancient drovers' routes between Castile and Extremadura. Erected between 1462 and 1474 by Beltrán de la Cueva, the first Duke of Albuquerque, this late Gothic fortress combines formidable military design—including a low-wall barbican, angular towers, and square merlons—with palatial luxury details befitting a ducal residence. Protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural since 1949, the castle remains linked to the House of Albuquerque and has been selectively inhabited by its owners through the centuries.
