Luque Castle
The Luca castle stands proud on a rocky outcrop above the square - its main homage tower is in good condition and dominates the view from the square. The tower is still bathed in the evening sunlight long after the square has fallen into shade.
The first, early Moorish fortifications from 909 were briefly occupied by the rebel Ibn Mastana, from the nearby castle of Carcabuey, in alliance with Omar bin Hafsun, who subsequently handed him over as a hostage to the Emir of Cordoba, Muhammad I. Once the Emir had recaptured the castle, the fortifications were strengthened.
In the Almohad period (12th to 13th centuries), the castle was enlarged with triple outer walls. After the Christian reconquest in 1241, Fernando III ordered further changes, creating the layout of two towers and two irregular joining walls that we see today. The castle continued to be a strategic border stronghold, and was even recaptured by the Moorish Nazari kingdom before its final defeat in 1492. Then the fortress became part of the Señorío de los Venegas, converted into a Condado in 1624, when King Felipe III granted the new title to Edgar Salvador Venegas, whose family resided in the castle until the early 18th century. The abandoned castle passed to the state in 1973 and was put up for action a number of times - unsuccessfully, with no bids. In 1999 the town hall took over the fortification and restored it.
Wikipedia
