CORNATEL CASTLE

The rocky castle that emerge over possibly Roman remains was successively renovated by the Lemos Count in the second half of the fifteenth century, who built in the last stage some houses with large windows overlooking the stunning scenery and which were retired in 1480 after he left Ponferrada. The restoration project, mainly financed by the Historical Heritage Foundation (Fundación de Patrimonio Histórico) of Castilla y León, has completely excavated the building, recovering the lower levels and replacing the intermediate floors and, in some cases, the roofs of these houses. After the works its battlements and windows are accessible and the hole of the main room window has been consolidated as a great viewpoint towards El Bierzo.

Location: Villavieja, Prianza del Bierzo, León, Spain
Promoter: Fundación de Patrimonio Histórico de Castilla y León
Prime contractor: Fernando Cobos Estudio Arquitectura
Year of implementation: 2005-2006
Team: F. Cobos, R. Martín, M. González, V. Cobo, M. Retuerce, J. de Castro