My teenage sons would like to visit some castles in Andalucia when we are there this Christmas. While many towns have castles, I have been unable to determine if they can be entered. Does anyone have any information on which can be entered and explored?

www.castillosnet.org (English and Spanish)
www.castillos-de-españa.com (in Spanish only)
www.castles.org
www.whatspain.com/spain-castles.html

in any case, just google for the name of the castle you wish to enter, and you´ll get some useful info.

If you would like to stay in a castle in Spain google the word paradores - there is a whole website dedicated to this. We're planning a week or so in Spain and this sort of 'castle' accommodation was recommended to us. Regards Ronael

Please note that only some paradores are castles.

And one of the most "castle-y" looking <I>paradores</I>... in Alarcon... turned out to be a (bit of a) disappointment for my wife and daughter this past October; it has been so extensively renovated inside (which does, of course, have its merits), that it didn't seem very much like a castle on the inside.

And as others <I>did</i> warn... there is <I>nothing</i> to do in Alarcon... though in defense of the parador, dining there was just fine.

I'm no Spain expert... but if it fits the rest of your itinerary plan... I definitely would consider the parador that is <I><U>inside</u></I> the Alhambra, in Granada (though I have no personal experience of staying there). It might not be a castle per se... but I can't think of a much cooler destination.

Best wishes,

Rex

http://www.ctv.es/USERS/sagastibelza...lite/olite.htm

the perfect idea of what a castle should be...far from Andalucia, I´m afraid.

The Alcazaba in Málaga ("fortress", in Arabic) overlooks the city and you can visit it.

http://www.esp.andalucia.com/turismo...illos/home.htm, available in English, shows you the Castle routes in Andalucía (a large region, by the way)

Thanks for all your help. I think I found some that should allow them to indulge in their fantasies involving parapets and hot oil.

This is not Andalusia but if any one does a search fro castles I thought I would add this:
http://www.gonzalezcamacho.com/index.html
Covering Salamanca.