In Cantabria, there is a large number of fortified towers that fulfilled functions of housing and defense. These buildings, generally battlements, were erected mostly between the 13th and 15th centuries by noble families and influenced significantly the architecture of Cantabria, passing some to be fort-houses, a prelude to the future casona montañesa. A curious fact is that there are no circular towers in the region (except in some churches), unlike in the neighboring community of Asturias. Today, most of the towers that remain are either in ruins or have been drastically altered.
The towers and castles that appear in medieval documents as castellum were very popular both as fortresses and as residences of nobles, mayors and lords. They eventually became widespread in the lower valleys of Cantabria, built on hills and within towns. One of the best examples of urban towers that gave rise to new settlements was the now-disappeared Torre de la Vega, the origin of Torrelavega.
The defensive towers of Cantabria, due to their architectural features, can only be compared with those of Enkarterri, a neighboring comarca of Biscay.
In the territory currently occupied by Cantabria, three stages of medieval military architecture can be distinguished. The first, around the 7th and 12th centuries, is documented by about twenty sites that correspond with small castles, presumably linked to respective alfozes, and are the first organization in the Cantabrian territory that are not monastic in nature. These castles are arranged in high places, easily defensible and often visible to each other. At the end of the stage, the new castles, related to the founding of the four villas (Castro Urdiales, Santander, Laredo and San Vicente de la Barquera), are more complex and are located in the same urban centers. Successively renovatedand staged centuries later in the third phase, the walls around the villas were constructed.
From 13th century, with the gradual increase of feudal power appearing across Cantabria and a large number of fortified towers covered the entire territory. These are still preserved through several preservation and restoration works. In the late Middle Ages, the only instance of an interior castle in Cantabria was Castle of Argüeso.
On low medieval stage family fortifications dotted the Cantabrian geography with buildings designed to defend the coast and protect against the war of the bands. Isolated towers built between the late 12th century and early 15th met certain military functions and served as watchtowers over the territory. Many of these fortifications were Gothic in style but did not show up in urban centers.
Many had common features such as square plants and walls of masonry with reinforcements of ashlar, narrow windows and mullions or ensaetadas that usually adorned a single entry with wood floors. Commonly, they had three to four floors, with services like the cellar and salting area in the basement, a banquet and reception hall at the first floor and stately premises on upper floors. The main staircase was located near the entrance and was usually made of wood. Each floor was free of divisions except for the tapestries that hid the lord's bed. No traces of partitions were found during excavation. Some possessed walls surrounded by a pit. In some cases, virtually all walls were made of masonry. The entrance was often a lowered arch flanked by loopholes; inside, a staircase beside it with two sections per floor that attached to the front progresses. The overall volume had few voids and created a heavy atmosphere. Decor was virtually nonexistent, but the fortifications were normally topped by battlements. Inside, there was open walls near the window, with a bench, adn was covered by a segmental arch.
The inner structure consisted of a central wooden trunk holding a large wooden beam on each floor, this was then covered by masonry between it and the stone walls. Sometimes, an inner wall of masonry was built, replacing the wooden pillar.
In some cases, few of these towers were surrounded by a high barbican that made them seem like castles in the style of ÃÂlava. The presumed existence of these defense systems (ramparts, moats, countermoats, corbels, etc.) marked the typological difference of the towers.
The stately fortresses kept to the medieval styles until the 16th century. During the 16th century, these towers were expanded upon to make manors or small palaces. These houses were still built in the Gothic tradition of cubic volume, were developed in height and had owned more open fields surrounding them than the then modern palaces. From the 16th century, the union of the Catholic Monarchs brought a longer period of peace in the region. This lead the towers to decline in military function, but were still being built and preserved as a sign of stately power. This led to the building of typical tower-houses of Cantabria as some existing watchtowers were expanded or modified.
The evolution resulted in the 18th century casona montañesa, a typical example of a Cantabrian palace. Some Baroque palaces, such as of Soñanes, were built respecting the ruins of existing ancient medieval towers.
It is known that king Henry IV of Castile had the Tower of Arce built in 1403. Largely speculated but ultimately false rumors were that other towers were demolished by order of the Catholic Monarchs, such as those in Gipuzkoa and Galicia. In truth, in 1437, Henry IV began a campaign to tear down castles, fortresses and tower-houses that were built with no royal license. The tower houses of Gipuzkoa were ordered demolished in the year 1457, and in 1500, Isabella and Ferdinand continued that legacy.
The following is a list of towers, fortified towers and tower-houses (fortified houses) of Cantabria built between the 12th and 17th centuries. Not listed are castles of the region castle here refers to the popular name, and does not refer to the proper name of the fortification.