Spain · Restored
castle of Simancas
The Castle of Simancas is a late-medieval fortified complex in the centre of Simancas, Spain, which houses the Archivo General de Simancas. Built on earlier Moorish foundations and remade in the late 15th century, it later became the royal archive and today is protected, restored and open to visitors and researchers.
Its prime
1580
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1580
What castle of Simancas looked like in its prime.
A compact, pale limestone fortress with a low, crenellated curtain wall across the front, pierced by a central rounded gate flanked by twin drum towers. Behind the wall rises a rectangular stone residential block with steep grey slate roofs and small dormer slits. A taller cylindrical tower with a domed cap and small balcony stands at the right end, and a smaller conical-roofed round tower sits centrally; the masonry is ashlar and the entrance arch bears a carved shield. The castle sits directly on a raised stone forecourt.
Its story
The story of castle of Simancas.
The castle stands in the centre of Simancas on older Moorish foundations. In the 15th century the House of Enríquez constructed a new fortification on top of the existing ruins, restored the Moorish walls and added a chapel.
The fortress later became the royal archive and still houses the Archivo General de Simancas. The complex has been protected with fireproofing measures, the Enríquez chapel has been restored, and the building is open to visitors and researchers.
Step inside
9 places to explore in 1580.
The record describes 9 distinct spots at castle of Simancas — including 2 interiors: interior of the 15th-century chapel, archive chambers and administrative rooms. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate castle of Simancas with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1580 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate this castle →Whose castle
Clans who held castle of Simancas.
The families that held castle of Simancas for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Enríquez
The House of Enríquez built the 15th-century fortification and its chapel over the older Moorish walls.
