Getaway to Belmonte, a medieval movie town famous for its knightly battles

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An hour and a half by car is enough to escape from the bustling capital of Madrid and enter

, a small municipality located to the southwest of Cuenca, which the vertigo of the passage of time seems not to have affected.

There are many ways to marvel at this town that in 1361 Pedro I of Castile, El Cruel, made it independent from Alarcón to incorporate it into the crown and create the state of Belmonte: get lost in its urban area, admire its stately buildings or walk among its important heritage monumental, with the Collegiate Church of San Bartolomé and its

as banners.

Both built in the fifteenth century and declared a National Monument.

The town stands out for its monumental heritage.

But when it comes to defining the main tourist attraction of the Castilian-La Mancha town, there is no doubt that its imposing fortress, which stands on the San Cristóbal hill, draws all eyes.

In the Gothic-Mudejar style, it has even been the setting for the

of all kinds of film and television productions.

Multiple feature films, as well as series and spots, have been filmed within its walls.

But this emblematic fortress has found its place in celluloid history thanks to the epic film

, starring Charlton Heston and Sofía Loren (Anthony Mann, 1961).

In this beautiful walled town, you can not only travel to the past through the big screen.

began to be recreated in Spain

, the town has been the cradle of this historic full-contact sport, based on ancient tournaments from the Middle Ages, explains David Gurillo, Rutour Belmonte tour guide.

The town is the epicenter of medieval combat in Spain.

In 2014, it hosted the first world championship of this discipline that was held in Spain, in which more than 500 fighters from up to 15 different countries participated.

In addition, every year, during the last week of September, the best wrestlers gather at the fortress ordered to be built by the Marquis of Villena Juan Pacheco, which six centuries later, at the height of its majesty, hosts a national tournament with all the ingredients of the medieval epic.

A little piece of its history is hidden in every corner of Belmonte, even in those places that tourists seek to rest.

Like the

, which was ordered to be built in the 14th century by this famous writer and prince of Villena.

The construction was built as a passing fortress for his travels.

In the same way, today it intends to welcome travelers who want to discover these lands.

A room in the Palace of the Infante Don Juan Manuel.

It has 39 rooms equipped with all the comforts, including a magnificent spa to relax after a cultural, natural or oenological route through the area.

Its exclusive spaces for business and social events bear witness to the essence of the identity of

, which also served as a convent until the 1960s.

In its restaurant, open to the public, you can taste the most varied dishes, prepared with a personal imprint.

Many of them are typical of the area, such as the

.

It is a delicious traditional recipe made with game meat, which has been passed down from generation to generation.

The most traditional dish in Cuenca is the morteruelo

Curiosities

1978. The Lord of the Rings

In this cartoon version by Ralph Baksh, Belmonte Castle represents Helm's fortress, attacked by the orcs of Isengard towards the end.

1985. The Lords of Steel

This film, directed by Paul Verhoeven, was shot almost entirely in the town of Cuenca.

During its recording, part of the homage tower was burned.

1989. Pedro I, The Cruel

This TVE series, directed by Francisco Abad, had a German blockbuster in the 70s that had the town's population on edge for several days.

2002. The Knight Don Quixote

For the recording of this local feature film, starring Juan Luis Galiardo and Carlos Iglesias, many of the interior walls of the fortress were painted garnet.

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