Any driver traveling on the roads of the Guadalhorce Valley, when looking at the slopes of the Sierra de Mijas, may encounter an unmistakable silhouette. Shadow walls in the sky, a fortress watching over the horizon and its walls … The stone that seems to tell Centuries of battles And it recovers.
However, the stones of this castle do not preserve ancient Nasrid or Christian secrets. There is no legend, no ghosts, no military history. It’s about fort Subordinate spotbuilding located in The Big Hurine which deceives the inexperienced eye: it looks like a medieval relic, but in fact it is «False historicism» Recently built Three decades.
Unlike the unique Castillo de Colomares in Benalmádena, that monument to Christopher Columbus that, despite its modernity, fulfills a cultural and touristic function, the Castillo de la Mota de Alaoren represents the more bitter side of history. Real estate ambition. It’s a concrete skeleton disguised as history, a movie set that ran out of actors or script midway through the filming process.
This strange building is located in the municipality of Alhorin el Grande, in an elevated area specifically known as the La Mota area. Its strategic location and view Distinctive viewpoints Above the valley, which explains why he chose the location for the project. However, it does not appear in the Andalusia Council’s official tourist guides or on historical heritage trails, and for good reason: it’s not monument VisitableRather, it is private property in a state of abandonment.
The dream of bricks in the 90s
To understand why this papier-mâché giant was built, you have to travel back to the early 1990s. The Costa del Sol region and surrounding municipalities have seen a Urban effervescence Where Pharaonic projects were the order of the day. At that time a developer promoted the construction of a large building Residential development Which promised to be a luxury standard in the interior of the province.
The plan was ambitious: upscale homes, a golf course and… Social club That would be the jewel in the crown. This social club was not a traditional building; It has been designed with A Medieval castle To give the complex an atmosphere of nobility and exclusivity.
Construction began around 1993. The walls were raised and the main tower beyond was identified Twelve metres to to riseArches and rooms were created that were intended to accommodate future residents and golfers. However, as with many other projects of the time, financing failed. the Economic problems The developer crippled the business, and the apartment complex and golf course never materialized as he had dreamed. The castle remained there, half-finished, like a lookout point ghost town Which never existed.
A scene of decay
Today, thirty years later, Castillo de la Mota is a place that attracts curious and vandals. As you get closer, the medieval illusion quickly fades. Walls far removed from the historic building reveal their modern nature: Brick and Coated cement. The interior, which was supposed to house luxurious lounges, became a canvas graffiti And an occasional shelter for Bottles.
The temple has suffered Loot materials The passage of time without maintenance has turned the facility into a potentially dangerous place. Despite this, its image remains strong from a distance, which intensifies the conflict Tourist confusion Who think they have discovered A The forgotten castle Andalusia.
While Malaga knew how to appreciate its true heritage, from Casbah From the capital to Gibralfaro Castle, and seeing how private initiative and the church have preserved the royal architectural jewels, Castillo de la Mota remains a reminder of the excesses of brick. A Castle of Lies paradoxically tells a very real and recent history of the county: a county history Urban dreams Who stayed on the road.