Castillo de la Vela (El castillo de la Vela) or Maqueda Castle is a castle located in the Spanish municipality of Maqueda, in the province of Toledo, Castilla–La Mancha. In 1931 it was declared a historical monument of art. In March 2013, the Spanish government put the castle up for auction for 9.5 million euros.
The castle of La Vela, built on the foundations of the previous Arab fortress, was never finished building, at least inside. In the 15th century it was rebuilt and expanded by Gutierre de Cárdenas. When the owners of the castle moved to the Toledo municipality of Torrijos, the fortress was left unused and deteriorated, although it remained in the Cárdenas family until the 19th century, when the manors were abolished. The Spanish Government installed a barracks inside it during the Civil Guard, thus giving it a function and an organism that would conserve it.
The castle’s floor plan is rectangular and occupies two different levels of land. Its walls are 3.5 meters thick and are protected by moats on two of its sides and three circular towers in the south corners and half of the east canvas. Later one more tower was added. The battlements of the Castillo de la Vela is similar to that of the Castillo de San Silvestre in Novés, which was also built by the Cárdenas family.
How to get to?
From Toledo 30 min (40.2 km) via A-40
GPS coordinates: 40°03′53″N 4°22′09″W
