Olivenza Fortress

Extremadura

Olivenza Fortress, located in the town of Olivenza in Extremadura, Spain, is a medieval military fortification originally constructed in the 13th century. The fortress was initially built by the Knights Templar after Alfonso IX of León granted them the village as a reward for their assistance in conquering the taifa of Badajoz. Over centuries, the fortress changed hands between Portuguese and Spanish control, with significant enhancements made by Portuguese King Don Dinis in 1298 and later by Don João in 1488, who commissioned the construction of the fortress's imposing keep tower, the tallest in Portugal at 40 meters high. Architecturally, the fortress features thick masonry walls, large blind towers, and defensive machicolations but lacks battlements. It originally had three gates, two of which survive: the Alconchel gate and the Los Ángeles gate, both with semicircular arches and defensive towers or pediments. The fortress suffered considerable damage during the Peninsular War, notably during the 1811 siege when French forces captured it, leading to the surrender of over 4,000 Spanish troops. Today, part of the Ethnographic Museum of Extremadura is housed within the keep tower, which is accessible via seventeen vaulted ramps wide enough for pack animals. The fortress stands as a testament to the region's turbulent history and strategic importance on the Iberian frontier.