Description of the attraction
The fortress castle of San Servando is located in Toledo, on the east bank of the Tagus River. The fortress rises on top of a hill located by the river. Due to its location, the castle of San Servando was of great strategic importance: it performed a defensive function, moreover, from here it was possible to control the descent to the river and the road leading to the bridge.
There is evidence that the fortress existed here during the time of the Roman Empire - this is evidenced by some archaeological artifacts found in this place. Later, the fortress was rebuilt by the Visigoths, and some time later - by the Arab conquerors. After King Alfonso VI of Castile conquered Toledo from the Muslims in 1085, the fortress was rebuilt into a monastery dedicated to Saints Herman and Servando. Due to numerous attacks, after a while the monastery ceased to exist, and the fortress was again used as a defensive structure. The fortress was of great importance in the 14th century during the war between King Pedro the Cruel and Enrique the Fratricide. It was during this period that, thanks to the efforts of Archbishop Tenorio, the castle was reconstructed.
In the plan, the castle has a quadrangular shape with three round towers located at the corners. The fourth tower is located in the wall on the south side of the castle. The main gate faces the city. Immediately behind them is the most basic tower - the Tower of the Oath, which has the shape of an oval.
In 1874, San Servando became the first castle to be awarded the status of a national architectural and historical monument. In 1939 the building was reconstructed. Today, conferences and various courses are held on the premises of the castle.
