Cornatel Castle Tourism

The Cornatel Castle (Ulver) are located 40 km from La Portela de Valcarce.

Cornatel, still arrogant, perched on the highest of the rock, seems to proclaim to the four winds his past glory. Hidden in the borders of the Bierzo its strong architecture resists gallantly the passage of the years sheltering, walls inside, all a treasure of history and legend that captivates to the moment. Its adarves still cross the truncated battlements defying time, as if hoping to once again feel the resounding of the ancient steps of the beautiful Countess Jimena Muñiz, her most illustrious guest.

The evocation of great feudal lords, noble ladies, Knights Templar, wrapped in heroic deeds, political ambitions and romantic love stories surrounds with intrigue and mystery this impressive fortress with more than nine centuries of history that refuses to die. The young Bercian who fell in love with a king was mistress and mistress of the castle and from there ruled the surrounding territory until the first decade of the XII century. Noble lords and counts were succeeded in possession until the arrival of the Order of the Temple which possessed it for almost a hundred years until its dissolution at the beginning of the fourteenth century. It will be in the middle of the fifteenth century when Cornatel will reach its maximum splendor.

An ambitious character, the first Count of Lemos, completely transformed the castle making it his residence and one of the strengths of his states. He lived there and died there at the end of that century. The fratricidal struggles for his property between his legitimate daughter and the bastard grandson, with the direct intervention of the Catholic Monarchs, did not fail.

So far the story but the other facet, the legendary, recreated by Enrique Gil and Carrasco in his novel "The Lord of Bembibre" is no less intriguing. Cornatel sets the stage for some of the highlights of his novel. In addition to this he left other works written in which Cornatel and Bierzo serve as an argument to express the nostalgia, love and also the concern he feels for his native land, especially for monuments, picturesque landscapes and great artistic wealth.