page_title: List of castles in Spain
section_title: Cantabria
hierarchical_section_title: List of castles in Spain / Cantabria
caption_attribution_description: Español: Panorámica del patio interior del Castillo de San Vicente en la localidad de Argüeso (Cantabria, España)English: Panoramic view of the courtyard of the castle of San Vicente in the town of Argüeso (Cantabria, Spain)
context_page_description: The castles in Spain were built mainly for the country's defense, particularly with respect to fortification. During the Middle Ages, northern Christian kingdoms had to secure their borders with their Muslim southern neighbours, thus forcing both Christian and Muslim kings to grant border fiefs to their liege noblemen so as to keep and maintain defensive fortresses. When the Reconquista advanced, those border castles lost their initial purpose, and, as in the rest of medieval Europe, they were used as noble residences and fief-keeps. Sporadic threats of war maintained their initial military purposes as enemy invasions were common. In some locations, such as the Basque country, fiefdoms did not exist as such, and noble families could not afford nor did they need huge fortresses, giving rise to many tower houses. In Muslim Spain many castle-palaces were built: the petty taifa kingdoms that arose after the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba were militarily weak thus castles began taking on a more aesthetic purpose.
context_section_description: Castle of Aldueso
  Castle of Allendelagua
  Castle of Agüero
  Castle of Argüeso
  Castle of Castro Urdiales
  Castle of Cobejo
  Castle of El Collado
  Castle of El Haya
  Castle of Montehano
  Castle of Piñeres
  Castle of Pedraja
  Castle of San Felices de Buelna
  Castle of San Vicente de la Barquera
  Castle of Suances
  Castle of Treceño
  Castillo de Villamoñico
  Castle of Villegas
  Castle of Vispieres
  Palace of Riva-Herrera
  Fort del Mazo
  Battery of San Martín
  Battery of San Martín Alto
  Battery of San Pedro del Mar
  Low Battery of Galvanes
caption: Castle of Argüeso
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