Province: Soria
Municipality: Gormaz
Community: Castile and Leon
Typology: Castle

Location:
The Caliph fortress of Gormaz rises upon a hill where the locality with the same name can be seen at Soria province.

History:
The Gormaz¨s fortress is the most ancient one of Europe, the probable date traditionally thought about the building’s foundation is the year 965, under the kingdom of Califa Al-Hakaman Arab  II, but this date comes from an Arab’s inscription (the only one known within Soria’s territory) which was attached to an eastern wall of the San Miguel chapel’s arcade, (recently restored) where a reference to the foundation of the fortress has been eagerly seen, however the Arab text does not use the verb banna (to build) therefore it  could refer to other event maybe with the  mihrab  from the out door oratorio or from the South side.

Moreover, there are data on Gormaz and a Count of Gormaz in the 30 decade of the Tenth Century that contributes to underestimate 965 as the foundation year of the fortress. Pottery dated before 900 make us think about the time of the Muhammad I. The same kind of arches and tackles are present in the Islamic regions of Ágreda,, that was abandoned in 868 after the uprising of the Sorians, which was repressed by the Tudelans told to do so. Soria, Garray, Ágreda and Cervera del Río Alhama were not inhabited again until the arrival of the Christians of the region, this would be at least in the year 868. But the main tackle and the arches from some doors are linked with the architecture of the main Cordoba’s mesquite that is  Abd al-Rahman I, and coincides with the Castle of Balaguer (Lerida), the Castle of Saint George (Lisbon), the Castle of Marbella (Malaga), the Tower of Conquezuela (Soria), the Tower of San Manços (Portugal), the Walls of Coria (Cáceres) the Walls of Elvás (Portugal),  the Walls of Évora (Portugal) outlining the policies of the first Cordobese emir against the landowners from Hispania and their renouncement to pay taxes.

The Gormaz’s fortress together with other fortifications, such as the landowners` towers and countless watchtowers of the region reaching Madrid and Talavera de la Reina, formed a joint of constructions unique in Europe in the 8th Century.

During the reconquest, the castle went from one side to another, finally falling into Christian hands in 1059 during the reign of Fernando the First. The castle lost its military character with the Catholic Kings (Fifteenth Century) and it was used as a jail then.

Description:
The Gormaz castle is the longest of Europe, its perimeter is of one kilometre and there is a distance of 400 meters between its two farthest points. It shows many refurbishments, since the facility went through several hands during the Reconquest.

State of Conservancy:
It is in a complete state of ruin

Ownership and use:
The Gormaz’s City Hall owns it

Visits:
It is of free access

Heritage:
The castle was declared a National Monument by means of the Decree issued in June the 3rd 1931. The place is under the Generic Declaration of Decree issued in April 22nd 1949 and the Law 16/1985 about the Spanish Historical Heritage.