La Herradura Castle has quite the history and is now an interactive museum honoring the 1562 shipwreck in the La Herradura bay. We call it a castle, but it really was used for other purposes.
Batería Defensiva El Castillo de La Herradura
The monument was built in 1770 by Carlos III. This was all part of the coastal surveillance and defense strategy. This was about the same time the towers of Cerro Gordo and Punta de la Mona we also erected. From the castle or fortress, they were able to communicate with the two towers.
This was a way to give warning and defend against Berber pirates and movements on the sea, all to protect the local fisherman and farmers. As well as the first line of protection for the city of Granada. Fires were used as a deterrent during the night and smoke signals were used during the day.
(Battery defensive La Herradura Castle)
The fortress was used by the army until 1839, followed by the civil guard. In 20o5 the Almuñécar Auyuntamiento took over and commissioned the restoration. In 2011 this restoration was complete and in 2021 the inauguration of the Historical Museum “1562-La Furia del Mar” was opened.
Now the castle is an interactive museum and a cultural space that will keep alive the memory of the shipwreck that occurred off the coast of La Herradura in the year 1562, in which 25 galleys of the Armada sank, in which more than 5,000 people lost their lives, a naval disaster greater than that of the Titanic at the beginning of the 20th century.
Historical Museum 1562-La furia del mar – Photo Gallery
La Herradura Museum Hours
Location near Playa La Herradura
The Castle is about 1 block inland from Playa La Herradura, just to the western end of the village. You may also access off of the N340.
More to do in Playa La Herradura
Monument to shipwrecked sailors
As you enter the town of La Herradura, you will notice a large bronze sculpture along the beach. This is the Monument to Shipwrecked Sailors. The deep bay of La Herradura hides the remains of 25 ships of the Spanish Navy, and more than five thousand sailors. The La Herradura naval disaster occurred on October 19, 1562, due to a very large storm.
Please read our guide on La Herradura
Great places to eat in La Herradura
As you meander the streets of La Herradura or stroll along the beach or paseo, eventually you will likely stop for some tapas. We’ll help you find scrumptious tapas in La Herradura. It may just seem like any regular restaurant from the outside, or it may feel more like a beach-side cafe, but either way, they are going to have some Spanish tapas for you! Just sit down and order a drink to let the magic happen of the Spanish lifestyle happen.
While we aren’t aware of any dedicated vegetarian restaurants in La Herradura, there are many that are vegetarian-friendly. If they don’t specifically have something on the menu, be sure to ask to alter their menu items. For example, even when you order a salad, you need to be careful, as many come with ham or tuna. Just specify when you order, as all of the La Herradura restaurants are very friendly.
