Welcome to Monzón Castle. You are standing before the main gate of a fortress with more than a thousand years of history. From its Muslim origins to its role as an artillery barracks in the nineteenth century, these walls have witnessed countless hardships that have put their strength to the test.
Two periods, however, shaped the castle’s architecture more than any other. The first was the arrival of the Knights Templar, who occupied the fortress during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The second came during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when the castle was expanded and adapted to withstand modern artillery fire.
The area around you belongs to this later expansion. The gate was once protected by a defensive iron grille, and a drawbridge crossed the moat. This main entrance was also protected by a row of loopholes for infantry fire; these could be reached through the stairs you see to your left, right next to the first guardhouse.
The first artillery battery located next to the entrance was known as the "Battery of the Lions," named after the two sculptures that once decorated the gate. To your left, carved directly into the rock, stands the guardhouse, which features a small chamber where weapons were stored.