Visit Belmonte
Belmonte is in the province of Cuenca in the Castilla la Mancha region.
Explore Belmonte
The highlight of Belmonte is its magnificent 15th century castle which is a mix of Gothic and Mudejar (Moorish) in style. The castle is an unusual shape - it is pentagonal and has six round towers - and has a triangular courtyard. Inside the castle are carved ceilings and decorative Mudejar-style plasterwork.
The castle is so attractive that it has been used as a setting for lots of movies including scenes in the movie of El Cid starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Lauren. More recently filming of Don Quixote took place in 2000 with Manuel Gutierrez Aragon directing.
Belmonte also has an attractive Gothic church built in the 15th century. This has a lovely wooden choir carved with stories from the bible. These were brought from the cathedral of Cuenca.
The village of Belmonte sits below the castle and is partially enclosed by the fortified walls. Look out for the Plaza de Enrique Fernandez, the Hermitage of Our Lady of Grace dating from the 17th century and the Convent of the Trinitarians from the 15th century.
Places to Visit Nearby
Be sure to visit the village of San Clemente about 40km away with its excellent Renaissance squares.
Alarcon is a beautiful fortified village dating back to the 8th century.
You can find more local travel ideas in the Cuenca guide and the Castilla-La Mancha guide.
Map of Belmonte and places to visit
Belmonte places to visit
Alarcon
Alarcon is an extremely well preserved fortified village. Its castle is now a magnificent 4* parador.
Alarcon guide
Cuenca
Cuenca sits dramatically on top of a gorge. Visit the hanging houses which are literally hanging over the edge.
Cuenca guide...or see all our recommended places to visit in Castilla-La Mancha