The Montemayor fortress is one of the most robust in the province, with a nearly impregnable design thanks to its thick masonry walls and three concentric walled enclosures. These enclosures are punctuated by small prismatic towers, to which two semi-cylindrical towers and one trapezoidal tower were added later. Inside, three partially preserved cisterns are highlighted, lined with ochre-tinted mortar and reinforced at the corners. One of these cisterns still displays the beginning of the barrel vault that would have covered it.
The castle also has several rooms and two main gates facing east and south. The internal spatial layout of Montemayor Castle bears some resemblance to that of Archidona Castle, suggesting a possible mutual influence or functional relationship. Due to its geographical proximity, it must have also been linked to the Nicio Castle in Estepona and Marbella, forming a network of fortifications that guaranteed the security of this coastal region.
The fortress played a crucial role from the 8th to the 15th century, serving as a defensive and surveillance element for the rural settlements of Al-Andalus. It was mentioned by 10th-century Arab authors, such as Ibn Hayyan and al-Razi, who highlighted its strategic importance and robustness. Initially linked to Bobastro and later to Marbella, its importance declined in the following centuries, until its resurgence in the Nasrid period. In 1485, after the fall of Ronda, the fortress surrendered to the Castilians and was depopulated. However, it was used as a defensive refuge by the revolting Moriscos in 1568 and regained military value during the Peninsular War against Napoleons troops in the 19th century.
Montemayor Castle had direct visual communication with other surveillance and defense points, such as the Andalusian watchtower of the Castillejo de los Negros and the Nicio Castle, allowing it to control large areas of the territory. On clear days, the Strait of Gibraltar and the North African coast can be seen from the fortress, underscoring its importance as an observation and defense point.
The fortress is mentioned in various historical sources, such as the Chronicle of the Moor Rasis by al-Razi and the Dikr Bilad al-Andalus, a 14th-century Maghrebi document, which mentions the presence of rubies in Montemayor. These historical references attest to the castles importance throughout the centuries and its role in the political and military struggles of the region.
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