Leaving Puerto Espacial still carrying that positive energy of someone who has just travelled through an entire galaxy, I saw on the map that Castillo Encantado was less than a ten-minute drive away. It comes from the same creator, Juan Villa, and shares the same spirit of building something incredible with passion and a hands-on approach. I could not leave without visiting.
That is how I visited both in a single morning, which was probably one of the best decisions of the trip.
A real 15th-century castle inhabited by fantastic creatures
Castillo Encantado is located in Trigueros del Valle, a village of just over 300 inhabitants about 25 km from Valladolid. Upon arrival, the place delivers what it promises because it is a genuine 15th-century medieval castle with walls, towers, an inner courtyard and ancient stones. This element alone makes the visit worthwhile. It is not a replica or a film set but the actual historical structure repurposed by Juan Villa with sculptures, creatures and thematic settings.
When I entered through the gate into the entrance courtyard, I immediately understood it was different from Puerto Espacial. There is less focus on the galaxy and more on medieval fantasy with dragons, mythical creatures and secret passages. Everything about the setting makes you believe that the castle was always this way and that the monsters have lived there forever as part of a history as old as the stones themselves.
The children were absolutely fascinated
The place was quite busy when I visited and many of the visitors were families with young children. It was a lovely sight because the children were running through the corridors with wide eyes, pointing at every new creature and pulling their parents by the hand to show what they had found. To them, this was not just an exhibition. It was a genuine enchanted castle with real dragons that truly lived there.
What you will find inside
The visit is self-guided. You can explore the rooms in any order, return wherever you like and stay for as long as you want. The main areas include several different spaces:
The dungeons
These house the dragon's lair. A massive creature "sleeps" at the back and the castle warns that it is best not to wake it. This area has a strong Game of Thrones theme.
The laboratory
This room is filled with potions, alchemy books and spooky experiments that look as though a sorcerer abandoned them in a hurry.
The cryptozoology hall
This is where the most mysterious beings on the planet live. You will see a unicorn, a mermaid, Nessie and the Yeti in a complete bestiary of creatures that "might" exist.
The cabinet of curiosities
This area features magical objects and artworks from every corner of the globe. There is an Egyptian mummy, a Terracotta Warrior and the Lady of Elche. These items look like an eccentric and wealthy family collected them over centuries driven by pure curiosity.
The enchanted tower
They recommend leaving this for the end. It mixes ghosts, Harry Potter and fairy tales, and ultimately leads you to a view of the castle from above.
There was also...
There was an area dedicated to superheroes and a new separate room for Harry Potter. The mythological creatures were in the castle atrium, which makes you think the exhibitions change over time.
Regarding the randomness of some rooms
I need to be honest here because this was part of my experience and it would be unfair not to mention it.
Some rooms are completely consistent with the castle theme. Dragons, magical creatures, potions and a bestiary all make sense within a medieval fantasy universe. It looks beautiful.
Then there are other rooms that are creative in a way I did not expect.
Take the Game of Thrones room as an example. The Iron Throne was there, looking imposing and surrounded by swords exactly as you would imagine. The atmosphere is good and sets the right mood. You want to sit on that throne and pretend you rule the Seven Kingdoms. So far, so good.
However, there was a Chinese dragon on the ceiling. It was not one of the dragons from the show but an oriental dragon skeleton with those long whiskers. And resting right there among the swords in the middle of the Westeros armoury was the Sword of Omens from Thundercats.
I stopped, looked, thought about it and looked again.
Was it random, an accident or a secret tribute to everything fantastic regardless of the universe? I do not know. Perhaps this is exactly the spirit of the place. It might be a castle that belongs to all fantasy rather than just one. Or perhaps Juan Villa is simply a fan of everything at once and decided to put it all inside a castle to see what happened.
The result is that some rooms feel more like an enthusiastic collection than a rigorous curation. And that is fine. It does not ruin the experience, it just makes you smile and shrug affectionately.
Practical information
Castillo Encantado is located at Calle Héroes 12 in Trigueros del Valle. It is literally less than a 10-minute drive from Puerto Espacial and the two complement each other perfectly for a day trip.
Tickets are very affordable. Adults pay 6 euros, while children aged 3 to 11, over-65s and people with disabilities pay 5 euros. Children under 3 enter for free.
Regarding opening hours
Winter: Fridays from 5 pm to 8 pm, on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm.
Summer: Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm.
But before you go, it is worth checking the website.
You can buy your ticket directly at the ticket office upon arrival without booking in advance.
Is it worth it?
If you go with children: yes, without a doubt. It is one of those experiences that will stay in their memory for a long time. A real castle with real dragons (in their minds) and characters that interact and make the magical world seem possible.
If you go without children: it is also worth it, especially if you enjoy the atmosphere and are willing to let yourself be enchanted without taking everything too seriously. The sculptural quality of Juan Villa is undeniable, the castle itself is worth the visit, and the whole package for 6 euros is fair.
And if you can combine the two: Puerto Espacial and Castillo Encantado, do it. They are distinct experiences but made with the same passion, and together they cost around 15 euros.
Some photos:
