CASTLES SIGÜENZA

The Castle of Guijosa stands near Sigüenza in Guadalajara's Castile-La Mancha region as a remarkable example of 14th-century fortress architecture transforming into a palatial residence. Built by Iñigo López de Orozco in the mid-14th century, this pentagonal-plan castle features a central tower keep with windows, balconies, and machicolations surrounded by walls with semicircular turrets at its corners. Originally surrounded by a moat, it once belonged to influential noble families including the House of Medinaceli and the Count Luis de la Cerda. Though only the exterior is accessible to visitors, the castle's architectural sophistication reflects the period's transition from purely military to residential design, earning it recognition as a cultural asset of interest.

Castle of Pelegrina is a 12th-century fortress in Sigüenza, Guadalajara, built directly atop rock to control the strategic Dulce River canyon and the main route connecting medieval Spain. Originally held by the bishops of Sigüenza, the castle changed hands repeatedly throughout history—seized by King Pedro I during his conflict with Aragón, later sacked by Navarrese forces in the 15th century, and eventually reclaimed by diocesan authorities. Its elevated position dominates not only the Pelegrina valley but also the meseta plains extending toward the Roman road of Emérita Augusta, now the modern A2 highway. The fortress was formally declared a Cultural Heritage Site in 1949.