February 7 Dramatized guided tour of Jumilla castle

Learn about the history of the castle of Jumilla from the noble family who built it and occupied it for centuries!

During the spring of 2026 two dramatized guided tours are being held (in Spanish) of the imposing castle of Jumilla, which stand high above the modern town on a hill previously occupied by Moorish, Roman and even Bronze Age fortifications.

The first of them is on Saturday 7^th February and begins at 11.00 at the castle gate. Registration costs 2.50 euros and is available online here: further information can be found at the local tourist office (telephone 968 780237).

During the morning you will be shown around by the Marquises of Villena, who were responsible for the construction of the castle in the 15^th century (more or less as we see it today, following restoration a couple of decades ago) and for its maintenance over subsequent centuries.

Jumilla castle

In the second millennium BC there were already Bronze Age fortifications on the hill, and they were followed by others built by the Romans (190 BC) and the Moors (8^th century AD, but it was not until 1445 that the town was placed in the hands of the Marquis de Villena, who ordered that the castle be rebuilt in almost exactly the form we can see today.

The fortifications were soon redundant as the threat of Moorish uprisings receded, but it later centuries it became important again. During the Wars of the Spanish Succession it was at the castle of Jumilla that Cardinal Belluga gathered his troops to fight for the cause of the House of Borbon in the Battle of Almansa (1707), and During the War of Independence the castle was used as a barracks by the French troops. In the early 19th century it became a prison, but following this its condition declined and eventually the castle was abandoned.

However, in 1971 work began to restore the building, and this was followed in 1990 by an archaeological dig in the cemetery and church of Nuestra Señora de la Gracia. The latest episode of restoration and refurbishment was completed in 2000, and every effort has been made to ensure that visits are enjoyable and informative.

For more local news, events and visiting information please contact the tourist office (telephone 968 780237, email oficinaturismo@jumilla.org) or go to the home page of Jumilla Today.