The King’s Castle was the palace or residence used by various kings from the former Crown of Aragon when they visited the city. They never resided there in a permanent way; they only stayed for a few days, weeks or months.

Built between the late 12th and late 15th centuries, it had a rectangular layout with four naves placed around a central courtyard. Each nave served a specific purpose. The part conserved today corresponds to the hall of Courts, as it was where the king and representatives from the three levels of civil society came together to hold Courts. It is the oldest part of the structure. Adjacent to the hall of Courts, there would have been the nave used as a chapel and in front, the nave with the royal chambers, whose ceilings we know were made of gold- and silver-plated wood. Finally, there were the entrance and storage areas, with the Tower of the Jews situated at an angle as a great defensive element.

The loss of an important part of the castle is explained, fundamentally, by the explosions it went through in 1812 and 1936, during the Napoleonic Wars and the Spanish Civil War, respectively. Many years before, in 1640, the building had been transformed into military barracks, a function it would continue to serve until 1948.

1. Hall of Courts / 2. Chapel / 3. Roof access tower / 4. Entrance / 5. Tower of the Jews / 6. Royal chambers