Video: The real story of the Tower of Joy from Game of Thrones turned out to be much more exciting than the series: Safra Castle
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
In Game of Thrones, young Ned Stark meets the Targaryen swordsmen in front of an impressive castle that bears an equally impressive name - the Tower of Joy. This beautiful structure looks so fantastic that it’s hard to believe that it’s not a decoration. Nevertheless, it is a real castle in Spain, called Zafra (Castillo de Zafra). The history of this fortress, unique in its architecture, is even more amazing and fascinating than the plot of the fantasy saga "Game of Thrones".
The fictional world of this already cult series is similar to Europe during the Middle Ages. Therefore, his filming uses real castles with a rich historical past. Such as the Safra castle.
It stands on a rocky cliff of the Calderos mountain range, at an altitude of 1400 meters, and is the only building for many kilometers around. The whole area is gently sloping meadows and sandstones. Despite its small size, the castle is quite capable of accommodating up to 500 people.
This impregnable fortress in the rock was built around the XII-XIII centuries. Then she was an outpost on the border between Christian and Muslim lands. Its high towers are located on a steep massive rock, and the platform at the top is crowned by a high defensive wall. The castle was built in such a way that access to it is inconvenient even for those living in it. Traces of habitation in this place date back to the periods of the Bronze and Iron Ages.
It is quite possible that earlier there was a building built by the Romans during their reign. Historians have information that at the time of the Visigothic kingdom in the 8th century, some buildings were already here. The castle was rebuilt and completed several times. There is evidence that the Moors built defensive structures here.
After the conquest of the Christian kingdoms of Spain in 1129, the castle began to serve as the border between Christians and Muslims. Zafra Castle, officially named Parador Duque De Feria. It is located in an area called Ruta de la Plata. There used to be an old road. Zafra was once the seat of the Feria Dukes, one of the most influential and wealthy dynasties in Spain.
Such a formidable impregnable facade of the castle was the personification of all the political vicissitudes of that turbulent time. From him was required not only reliable protection of its inhabitants, but also the opportunity to take advantageous positions to defend the fortress from the enemy.
The castle has nine impenetrable cogged towers. It is so harsh on the outside and surprisingly luxurious on the inside. The interior of the fortress is an amazing combination of tenderness and pomp. Bulky chests made of rare and expensive wood are adorned with gilding. The staircases are decorated with filigree carved decorative elements, and the halls of the castle are decorated with statues made of marble and jasper. Renaissance luxury reigns here. The Gothic chapel adds romance to the atmosphere of the castle.
Rumor has it that the castle is full of secret rooms carved into the rocks. Unfortunately, none of these mysterious rooms have yet been discovered. Although historians tend to believe that this is true. At that time, such castles were equipped with secret dungeons.
Safra has a very rich and interesting history. For example, in the 13th century, the king of Castile tried to recapture it. The army of King Fernando could not take the impregnable fortress by storm. The siege of the castle lasted for several weeks and was also unsuccessful. The owner - Don Gonzalo and the king began negotiations and came to a mutually beneficial agreement. Don Gonzalo's daughter was promised in marriage to the king's brother and thus everyone was satisfied.
The civil war in Castile again sparked a fight for the castle. He again began to pass from hand to hand, from the Castilian nobles to the Aragonese and vice versa. Finally, in 1469, Aragon and Castile united in the marriage of their children and the castle went to don Juan de Ombrados Malo. Don Juan's family owned the Zafra castle for many years, it was inherited. The dynasty ended, the castle went to the state, and gradually the decline took possession of it.
Safra's towers and buildings were so badly damaged, almost destroyed, that the castle could simply disappear. In 1971, don Antonio Sansa Polo bought it from the state. Thanks to his efforts, the castle was completely restored and it looks like something fantastic again. The owner has spent more than thirty years of his life and most of his fortune on this.
Today, guided tours are held at Safra Castle. Anyone wishing to tour the castle grounds must obtain permission. The only way out of the castle is to go up the stairs along the cliff. He is still unapproachable and incredibly beautiful.
Medieval castles seem to us today the height of beauty and romance. They inspire writers, poets, artists. Special attention should be paid to filmmakers who give these buildings a different, new meaning. Read about one of these amazing structures in our article the fabulous Neuschwanstein: how the king of Bavaria dedicated the castle to Wagner and inspired Disney.
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