A Castle in the Hills of Aragón: Stones that Hold Story

What is it about the Age of Chivalry that continues to capture our imagination?

What is it about the Age of Chivalry that continues to capture our imagination?

I find myself drawn to its legends and imagery, the scenes of armored knights charging on horseback, and the contemplative worlds of monks tucked away in monasteries, bent over their books.

Everything from this period was adorned in some way. Horses, manuscripts, robes, swords, cups, cutlery, drapery, tools, and even buildings carried decoration and meaning. In a largely illiterate society, visuals were essential. They told stories, conveyed power, preserved belief systems, and continue to offer us glimpses into that world today.

On a sunny autumn trip, I traveled through the region of Aragón in northern Spain and visited the medieval Castle of Loarre. Once a formidable fortress, it now stands in stillness, its heavy stone walls holding centuries of conflict, devotion, and defense.

The road we took climbed through a dry, open landscape of olive trees and limestone, the hills carrying that characteristic Spanish stoicism as the castle appeared ahead. The castle itself was perched on one of these limestone formations, perfectly positioned for defense, its towers keeping watch over the valley below.

As I walked the empty corridors, the past began to stir. I could almost hear the clatter of hooves, the clang of swords, the murmur of prayer and the powerful commands of kings. There was an energy in the air that seemed to hold traces of sweat, dust, and iron, remnants of two worlds colliding. Loarre once stood on the frontier between the Christian north and the Moorish south, where these giant faiths clashed and fought for dominance over the Iberian Peninsula.

Inside, the architecture revealed a different kind of power. The castle was built like a labyrinth, with sudden turns, narrow stairways, and hidden chambers. It became obvious to me that this was a place designed to confuse as much as to protect. There was no opulent display, only brusk, brutal stones. I was struck by their immensity, and how something could be so undeniably powerful yet so beautiful.

But there were hints throughout the castle of it wanting to be beautiful and regal. Around several doorways, the masons had carved a subtle ornament: a checkered border in the stone, a pattern unique to this region. Even though this structure was stripped of much of its luxury, the castle still carried glimmers of its royal origins.

It’s no wonder filmmakers were drawn here. Loarre’s silhouette, with its picturesque crenellations, has appeared on screen, and I couldn’t help but feel I was visiting a scene from the books of my childhood. Standing there, I appreciated that a monument could not only transport me back in time, but could stir my imagination in such a way that I could feel, hear and sense the rugged history from a milennia before.

I was reminded how relics, both grand and small, preserve the stories of our cultures and our past. The materials themselves hold meaning. The visit to this castle somehow solidified my new path with jewelry. I was inspired by its history, its stones, and the way the place resonated with energy and spoke to me.

Until next time, thanks so much for reading.

Caitlin