Impressive ruins of Castrotorafe Castle

Описание: The castle of Castrotorafe is a military fortification located in the depopulated Castrotorafe, province of Zamora, autonomous community of Castilla y León (Spain). Like the rest of the depopulated, it is a national monument by decree of June 3, 1931 and is listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the category of archaeological zone.

Link to full Wikipedia article on Castrotorafe Castle (in Spanish)
https://share.google/isqkqi082AEcnzI3t

Here's a 'tongue in cheek' commentary about the castle ... it may have a grain of truth in 🤔
La Villa de Castrotorafe - Around the World with Marty Essen https://share.google/yqC82ALfITcUJny6d

Below is an extract from 'Impressive ruined castles in Spain, a shattered past' https://share.google/gFgCtpE1YnblRDtjy

Castrotorafe Castle, Zamora
El castillo de Castrotorafe con el río Esla al fondo
The castle of Castrotorafe with the river Esla as witness. | Shutterstock
Next to the river Esla, in the uninhabited village of Castrotorafe, Zamora, the castle must have been built before 1319, according to the will of Juan de Castilla. Its privileged location, on the border between Castile, León, Portugal and Galicia, made this fortification of great military and strategic value. The construction had a large moat, traces of which still remain today, and it seems to have stood on a small hill, from where it controlled the town of Castrotorafe.
According to records, is one of the ruined castles that fell into oblivion at the end of the 17th century. After more than two centuries in a state of abandonment, in 1931 the ruins of Castrotorafe were declared a National Monument. However, since 2009, with funding from the Zamora Provincial Council, work has been carried out to conserve and consolidate the walls. However, it seems that the current work appears to be unprofessional and is causing serious damage. In fact, the first work to clear the remains caused the collapse of one of the defensive cubes.

One of the great attractions of these ruins is the bridge. When the waters of the reservoir of the River Esla are at low levels, it is still possible to see what was once the viaduct that served as a connecting link. Halfway between Zamora and Benavente, the village and castle of Castrotorafe offers beautiful views of the reservoir and its surroundings, making it a perfect excursion near the border with Portugal