Murallas del Castelar

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The Castelar Walls are a vestige of our Andalusian past, still standing atop Elche Hill. Come and explore them!

The heights of Castelar Hill, on Elche's outskirts, hide a veritable archaeological treasure: the ruins of an ancient Islamic wall from the 10th century. While this was naturally defensive terrain, during the Caliphate period it was reinforced by a wall over two metres thick, forming a large defensive enclosure that is breathtaking today for its extension and excellent state of conservation.

Wandering through this site is like stepping back a thousand years: among ancient stones, sweeping landscapes and the ruins of ancient buildings, it is easy to imagine what life was like in this rural settlement that controlled the territory before the birth of the Islamic city of Elche. Excavations have revealed the remains of three buildings and suggest that this may have been the site of the mythical al-'Askar, a camp mentioned by 9th century Arab geographers.

The natural surroundings are ideal for a route on foot or by bike, with breathtaking views of the Elche countryside. If you want to keep exploring the area's history, head to Elche's Archaeological and History Museum (MAHE), where you can view artifacts found at the site and learn more about the city's Andalusian past.