Medieval tower of Mazaleón

The Medieval Tower of Mazaleón is a robust structure, built in ashlar masonry in the Gothic style. It stands imposing, still preserving original defensive elements such as loophole windows and four corbels that once supported machicolations. Its square plan, 7 metres wide, reveals the solidity of a building designed for defence.

This imposing construction was erected in the 15th century, forming an essential part of the walls of the medieval citadel of Mazaleón. Within this walled precinct stood key points such as the church and the castle, consolidating a vital defensive core for the locality. Curiously, its construction between two buttresses of the 14th-century church's apse blocked the exterior view of that polygonal part of the apse.

Inside, the tower houses a spiral staircase that communicates directly with the church through the apse and the epistle nave, evidencing a functional integration between both structures from their origins. Originally, the tower was taller and is believed to have been crowned by a Gothic bell chamber.

There is a presumption that another tower adjoined to the façade of the church may have existed, supported by the observation of a corbel in the remains of a machicolation in that area. This second tower was probably demolished with the construction of the bell gable in the 16th century, adapting to the new architectural needs of the era.

The history of the tower took an unexpected turn in the 17th century. Lightning struck the tower violently, causing great damage not only to the structure but also to the Gothic altarpiece of the church and the Tabernacle. This catastrophic event changed its appearance for ever.

As a consequence of the devastation, and given that the church already had another bell tower built in the 16th century, the decision was taken to reduce the height of the tower and cover it to prevent future water infiltration. This intervention marked the definitive transformation of its appearance, leaving it in the configuration we can admire today.