The fortified complex that crowns Oropesa's hill is in fact two castles and two Renaissance palaces built by successive generations of the same noble family — the counts of Oropesa — between the 14th and 16th centuries. The whole ensemble was converted into Spain's first historic-building parador in 1930, and it is still a working hotel today.
Even if you are not staying, it is worth making the climb to the entrance. The views from the ramparts take in a vast sweep of the Tagus valley and the Sierra de Gredos beyond — one of the finest panoramas in Castile-La Mancha. Inside, the rooms display medieval armoury and period furniture; a guided visit covers the keep, the courtyard, and the ceremonial halls. The keep itself, square and severe, dates from the early 15th century and was built to signal the power of a family that counted Extremadura and much of southern Castile among their estates.