A trip with my dog to Zamora castle in Spain

This March, I took a trip with my dog to Zamora in Spain. Once I found out that there is a castle in Zamora that is dog-friendly, it was decided: This would be the spot for our overnight stop on a longer car journey between Portugal and Spain.

I have to say, I didn’t expect too much but the city in Castile and Léon surprised us very pleasantly. If you are considering to take a trip to Zamora with your dog, I can recommend the apartment that we stayed at. It was in a great location to visit the castle and the old town.

In this article, I will tell you all about visiting Zamora and the its castle with your dog.

THE VISIT

The castle of Zamora is located in the old town, right on the bank of the Douro river. Actually, it is not technically a castle but rather a fortress that was built to protect the city in the 11th century.

Surrounding the castle is a beautiful park that is perfect for a longer stroll with your dog.

Just nearby, you can also find the cathedral of Zamora which is very much worth seeing. Isn’t the Romanesque architecture just gorgeous?

The castle itself is open to the public, including dogs, free of charge. Isn’t that amazing? Be sure to double-check the times though – when we visited, Google claimed that it was open longer than it was in reality. So best be sure to take full advantage!

I found it fascinating to visit the castle. Can you imagine what it must have been like when the giant moat was filled with water? I found the architecture to be very interesting as well. Clearly, different parts were built in different periods and the entire design is rather unusual.

It was also possible to go up the tower and enjoy the views over the city and the Douro river. You can also see the old city walls as well as the cathedral of Zamora from another perspective. So pretty!

BONUS TIP

You can find many sculptures of the artist Baltasar Lobo throughout the castle and its grounds. This is because the famous artist was born in Zamora. If you are interested, you can find a museum dedicated to Baltasar Lobo right next to the cathedral. The entry is free of charge, but dogs are understandably not allowed inside the museum.

HOW LONG IT TAKES AND WHO IT’S FOR

We spent around one hour walking around the castle and the grounds. We had to rush through the castle a bit due to the unfortunate confusion around opening times, so if you can, budget more time. I think 90 minutes would allow you to see everything without feeling rushed.

Overall, the park was very accessible with slopes available as alternatives to stairs. However, inside the castle if you wanted to get to the upper levels, stairs were the only option. You can still see parts of the castle without stairs though.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Overall, this was a great trip. I was really pleasant surprised – Zamora instantly became one of my favorite places to visit. The castle and the gardens were so beautiful and interesting at the same time. If you have a chance to come here with your dog, don’t hesitate!