Castle and Old Village of Portilla

This is not a tourist attraction and may not offer toilets, parking, or other services. Visit at your own responsibility.

Castle and Old Village of Portilla is one of the most important medieval archaeological and defensive sites in the Basque Country. Located in the municipality of Zambrana, in southern Álava, the fortress and abandoned hilltop settlement occupy a spectacular rocky ridge overlooking historic routes between Castile, Navarre, and the Ebro Valley.

Known in Basque as Zabalateko gaztelua, Portilla emerged during the 11th century as a territorial center of the Kingdom of Pamplona under King Sancho III the Great. The site formed part of a network of frontier fortresses built to consolidate Navarrese expansion. Its strategic position made it a key military and administrative center throughout the Middle Ages.

Frontier Wars and Medieval Decline

The castle became the scene of numerous conflicts between Navarre and Castile, particularly during the Castilian invasion of Basque territories between 1199 and 1200 led by Alfonso VIII. Although the fortress resisted militarily, Portilla was eventually transferred to Castile in exchange for the fortress of Miranda de Arga in Navarre.

In 1288 the site witnessed another major siege during the Castilian civil war between Sancho IV and Alfonso de la Cerda. Over the following centuries, the hilltop settlement gradually declined as the population moved approximately 500 meters downhill to the present-day village of Portilla, which eventually absorbed the identity of the original medieval settlement. By the sixteenth century, the old fortress had been abandoned.

Restoration and Visitor Information

Today, visitors can still explore the remains of the rock castle, medieval walls, church ruins, and traces of the former fortified village, all integrated into an impressive natural landscape.

After centuries of abandonment, an ambitious restoration and recovery project revitalized the site and received the Hispania Nostra Award in 2016. The archaeological and conservation works have made Portilla one of the most interesting medieval heritage destinations in Álava.

The site can be visited freely through marked walking routes, including the 14-kilometer Route of the Castles, which connects several nearby fortifications in the region, such as the nearby Castle of Lanos. Comfortable footwear is recommended due to uneven terrain and rocky paths.