Trasmoz, due to its strategic location, was key to the defence of the Aragonese border with Castille and Navarra, thus a formidable and powerful castle was built in the XIIth century. It was also the only secular domain of the entire Moncayo, full of ecclesiastic domains.

The castle of Trasmoz, with an extension of 2.300 m2, is a clear example of a castle with a primitive enclosure, constituted by the keep and an oval wall surrounding it, extended in its turn with a second wall.

The keep and the first wall go back to the XIIth century, with a moat that following the extension of the XIIIth century, ended up inside the parade grounds of the castle. This extension, initiated by Sancho VII of Navarra toward 1215 and continued by Pedro III and Pedro IV, as a result of the wars with Castille, has been largely altered by works going back to the XVth century, undertaken to repair the damages suffered by the castle during the War of the two Pedros during the second half of the XVth century.

During the XIVth and XVth centuries it played a major role for the Luna and the lords of Urrea. The enclosure is polygon shaped, with six towers which framed and protected the central keep. Its walls, very thick, end up in embattlements and have defensive arrow slits.

The castle, adapted to the landscape where it is located, is built in stone, using the masonry system. It was partially excavated, during the years 1978 and 1979, bringing to light many material remains, which have helped to complete the still scarce panorama of Medieval Aragonese architecture.

One of the results of these excavations was the discovery of a dump going back to the beginning of the XVth century. Numerous ceramic remains were found there, among them outstanding luxury ceramics that came form the Valencian potters of Paterna and Manises, dating from the beginning of the XVth century. Pieces of common ceramics were also found, small bronze objects and three coins, of Enrique III de Castilla, Alfonso V de Aragón and Jaime I, respectively. Numerous bone materials, as well as remains of fish, mollusks, etc., very interesting materials when it comes to clearing up numerous questions regarding data that refer to nutrition and animal and vegetable species during the Late Aragonese Middle Ages.

The fortress was abandoned for good in 1530, when its insides caved in following a fire. Thus ended its 400 years of military life. In 1267 it was inhabited by Blasco Pérez, sacristan of Tarazona, who minted counterfeit money there, and those alchemy practices gave rise to the legends that have come down to the present, such as the legend of tía Casca, the most feared witch of the district.

It seems that the castle of Trasmoz, was a "temple" of European witchcraft. Numerous myths, fables, heroic deeds and rituals are linked to the castle of Trasmoz. Magic, goblins, witches’ Sabbaths and spells, which even Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer related in three of his famous legends.

The castle of Trasmoz, inaugurated its rehabilitated keep in the summer of 2002, restructured as the Interpretation Centre of the Castle of Trasmoz. There, four inner storeys contain an exhibition of part of the treasure found during the excavation of the tower. 160 complete items of the original heirloom of the last lord of the castle, Pedro Manuel Ximénez de Urrea (1485-1524), comprised of bowls, pitchers, part of a knight’s breastplate, gold and silver articles, crockery, canteens, urinals, brooches, part of a combat coat of mail, spearheads, arrowheads, thimbles, needles, etc, are on display.

The Friends of the Castle de Trasmoz Foundation, intends to continue the rehabilitation of the rest of the enclosure, which remains to be excavated, to turn it into an important Museum of Myths and Legends. In the meantime, it constitutes a true Medieval scenario which captivates visitors and awakens their interest.

© Prames