Alburquerque: A Castle on the Portuguese Border
Extremadura, Spain
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Castillo de Luna
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250
XP
+100 Spain
= 350 total
1 day
Alburquerque: A Castle on the Portuguese Border
250 + 100 XP
The Castillo de Luna stands on a granite ridge above Alburquerque, a few kilometres from Portugal, and it is one of the largest and best-preserved fortresses in Extremadura — a double enclosure with a keep, built and rebuilt through centuries of being on a contested frontier. The medieval Villa Adentro below it is walled and almost entirely intact. Around the town is dehesa that holds one of the densest populations of black vulture and Spanish imperial eagle in Europe, which is why birdwatchers come here in numbers.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Climb to the Castillo de Luna and walk the double enclosure on the granite ridge
2
of 5
Walk the Villa Adentro, the walled medieval town below the castle
3
of 5
Work out why a fortress this size is here: a frontier that moved back and forth for centuries
4
of 5
Go out into the dehesa for black vulture and Spanish imperial eagle, which breed here in numbers
5
of 5
Look across at Portugal and work out how close the border actually is
Climb to the Castillo de Luna and walk the double enclosure on the granite ridge
Walk the Villa Adentro, the walled medieval town below the castle
Work out why a fortress this size is here: a frontier that moved back and forth for centuries
Go out into the dehesa for black vulture and Spanish imperial eagle, which breed here in numbers
Look across at Portugal and work out how close the border actually is
Before you go
The castle climb is steep with unguarded drops. Summer heat here is extreme.
Finding nearby campsites...
About Extremadura
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
250 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
350 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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