Herce castle in cidacos valley: a historical-artistic look

Abstract

The restoration of Herce castle became a reality after a development process between 2006 and 2009; apart from the intervention itself, the process included a series of previous works: an architectural project, a historical-artistic study and an archaeological excavation. After a historical MINERVA SÁENZ RODRÍGUEZ 248 BROCAR, 36 (2012) 247-284 context of the monument, which is associated with similar ones in the area, this article analyzes the historical evolution, its chronology and its main typological and constructive features. The earliest documentary quotes of fortress in Herce date from 1200 and 1246, but the preserved remains in El Salvador Hill -as it shows the few found remains in excavations- indicate that its chronology can not go back beyond XIII century. Therefore, Herce castle was not built ex novo in the late Middle Ages, but it had to replace a previous high medieval one, which is related to the struggles of conquest and reconquest between Muslims and Christians. As for typology, it is one of the prototypes of mountain castle, rock castle, or topographical castle, although more than a castle itself, it was a watch tower, a fortress, or a signals or optical tower.