Torre del Homenaje de Ponferrada

Castillo de los Templarios - Torre del Homenaje (Wikimedia Commons - José Luis Filpo Cabana)

The Torre del Homenaje is a fortified tower located in the Spanish city of Ponferrada, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León. It is located inside the walled enclosure of the city and is one of the most emblematic buildings of Ponferrada.

The castle of the Templars

Built in the 14th century as part of the city's defenses, it served as a watchtower and a place of refuge in case of attacks. Over the centuries, the Torre del Homenaje has been used for various purposes, including as a prison or municipal archive.

Today, the Torre del Homenaje is a very popular tourist attraction and houses an exhibition on the history of the city and the region. The Tower of Homage of the old castle of the Templars is a very important point on the French Way.

If we delve into the peculiarities of the Tower of Homage and more especially of the castle itself, we find some of the most interesting legends. The best known is related to the 12 original towers which, in turn, would be linked to the 12 zodiac signs. A theory that also has alchemists and Templars as protagonists.