The village of Granadilla is officially an 'Expropriated Town' due to the 1955 decree for the Gabriel y Galán reservoir construction.
Despite being designated as a flood zone, the village itself never flooded, as it sits on higher ground.
The castle’s design incorporates a shield-shaped tower, a rare defensive feature in Spanish 15th-century military architecture.
All original residents were forced to leave their homes by 1965, though the village was never submerged.
The town walls are exceptionally well-preserved and enclose nearly the entire medieval layout.
Granadilla is part of the 'Pueblos Abandonados' program, which uses student volunteers for its restoration.
The castle served not only as a military defense but also as an administrative seat for the Dukes of Alba.
The area is now an island-like peninsula accessible only by a narrow causeway during periods of high reservoir levels.
Castillo de Granadilla is a 15th-century fortification standing within the walls of a town that was forcibly evacuated in the 1960s to facilitate the construction of the Gabriel y Galán reservoir. The castle features a unique triple-walled layout designed to protect the strategic Alagón valley entrance. It served as the residence of the Dukes of Alba, who took ownership of the town in the 15th century. Today, the surrounding ghost town functions as an open-air museum managed under a restoration program. Visitors can access the battlements to view the reservoir waters that nearly surround the peninsula on which the village sits. The structure remains one of the few intact remnants of the town's defensive architecture after the surrounding population was displaced.
The top of the castle keep looking out over the village walls and the reservoir water.
Bring comfortable walking shoes as the town streets are paved with uneven historic cobbles.
Check local weather forecasts, as the site is exposed and lacks significant shade.
Carry plenty of water, as there are no functioning shops or services within the abandoned village.
Do not attempt to enter private residences or buildings marked as under restoration.
The site is typically closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Access is subject to change based on restoration projects and local government directives.
Respect the ruins and restoration work; do not climb on non-designated walls.
