Castillo de los Templarios in Spain

Here is yet another fine piece of Knights Templar heritage: Ponferrada is the capital city of El Bierzo in the Province of León, Spain. It lies on Sil River and it is completely surrounded by mountains.

Ponferrada is noted for its Castillo de los Templarios, a Templar castle which covers approximately 16,000 square meters. In 1178, Ferdinand II of León donated the city to the Templar Order to help hold the land against any fresh attack by the Islamist armies still occupying southern Spain, and to protect the pilgrims on the Way of St. James who passed through El Bierzo in their road to Santiago de Compostela.

The castle hosted the Knights Templar’s Grand Master of Castille. However, the Templars were only able to enjoy the use of their fortress for about twenty years before the Order was disbanded and its properties confiscated in 1311.

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