Join me as I explore the Spanish Pueblo of Niebla.

Despite being a small pueblo outside of Huelva, Niebla is host to its very own 15th century castle complete with a ring wall surrounding the village.

Niebla has changed hands many times throughout history, starting off first as a hub for silver mining under the Phoenicians in the 8th Century BC. Later it became known as Ilipla under Roman rule. In 713 CE Muslim conquerors took Niebla. Niebla traded hands a few times from there, becoming part of the Emirate of Cordoba before breaking away as an independent kingdom but then being captured by Seville in 1053.

Finally in 1212 Alfonso X of Castile conquered Niebla and it is believed from descriptions of the siege that this was the very first town in Spain to have gunpowder used on it. Imagine the shock of the Niebla soldiers and residents!

The 1755 Lisbon Earthquake later destroyed large portions of the castle which were dutifully repaired and rebuilt. Then in 1812, the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte blew up much of the castle as they retreated from Spain. Much of the castle was again reconstructed.

The results are a castle and ring wall with many scars that add to their character. Numerous civilizations have resided in Niebla and built up its fortifications only to watch them crumble under attack from the enemy or mother nature herself. The castle that stands today reflects all of these cultures if you know what to look for.

If you enjoyed this brief history of Niebla, leave a comment!

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