CASTLES ZAMBRANA

Castillo de Portilla stands at 780 meters altitude on a rocky outcrop near Zambrana in Álava province, embodying the region's medieval conflict and territorial disputes. Founded around 1040, this fortress witnessed the rival claims of Castile and Navarre throughout the 11th and 12th centuries before eventually falling to Castilian control in 1200. Archaeological evidence reveals continuous human occupation from the Iron Age through the Roman period. The castle appears prominently on the coat of arms of Araba, underscoring its historical importance. Today, restored with visitor facilities and interpretive panels, Portilla welcomes those interested in the region's medieval military heritage and provides panoramic views across the Álava landscape.

Castillo de Lanos, also known as Castillo de Ocio, perches on an elevated cliff overlooking the small village of Ocio in Zambrana's Inglares river valley. This 12th-century fortress guarded one of Navarra's strategic borders with Castile, controlling two critical medieval routes: one linking the Inglares valley to the Ebro corridor, and another connecting the Ebro valley to La Rioja through the Lobera pass. Ingeniously built from sandstone and extremely durable mortar that resembles solid rock, the castle's rectangular keep and attached residential quarters are defended by natural cliffs on three sides, making it nearly impregnable. Today the ruins stand as a dramatic testament to medieval military engineering in a remote Basque Country setting.