This amazing Spanish castle is so fantastic that it was used in the filming of the famous TV series "Game of Thrones". Built around the 12th and 13th centuries, Zafra Castle has been passed down among the Spanish nobility for hundreds of years. The towers of the castle are located on a massive rock that was once the border between Christian and Muslim territories.
The flat surface at the top of the cliff is crowned with a high defensive wall, making access to the castle inconvenient even for those who lived there.
By the 15th century, Safra was besieged by the king of Castile, who was fighting the then owner of the castle. But unsurprisingly, the formidable defense held out. The castle belonged to a long list of nobles, some of whom renovated or expanded the area. There are even rumors of secret rooms that were carved into the rock beneath the complex. While they have never been found, Castillo de Zafra is absolutely similar to the type of castles in which secret dungeons are most often found.
To this day, Safra's towers and buildings have been badly damaged and many have collapsed. But thanks to the restoration efforts of the owner of the 20th century castle, Don Antonio Sansa Polo, it looks like something fantastic again. Today, Castillo de Zafra is privately owned and anyone wishing to tour the castle grounds must obtain a tour permit. It is said that the only way out of the castle is to climb the stairs up the cliff.
Promotional video:
Castillo de Zafra is the inspiration for The Tower of Joy in Game of Thrones season 6. The shooting took place there.