As 'Game Of Thrones' Returns Eva Morejon

INVITES US INTO HER MAGNIFICENT CASTLE, THE NEW STAR OF THE SHOW

Steadfast and strong-willed, like those who gazed out from the battlements centuries before her, Eva Morejón is not one to be daunted by the task at hand. “I never give up,” she says cheerily of running Almodóvar, one of Spain’s most awe-inspiring castles, and helping to turn it into a thriving business.

This mighty fortress sits on a massive rock above the sleepy, whitewashed town of Almodóvar del Río in the province of Córdoba in Andalusia, and is flanked by looming walls and sturdy square towers that can be seen for miles around.

Dating back to Moorish times, the 1,300-year-old castle has been in Eva’s husband’s family since the 17th century. Saved from ruin and largely rebuilt by the Count of Torralva between 1901 and 1936, it is now home to Eva and her husband Fernando Solís, the son of the Marquis of Motilla and his ex-wife, Carmen Tello.

“The castle was of strategic importance thanks to its location,” explains Eva, pointing to the River Guadalquivir far below. Almodóvar has been fought over countless times in its turbulent history, even becoming a royal residence in the 14th century.

It has also welcomed the cast and crew of TV blockbuster Game of Thrones, who shot scenes for the new series there. “We’re huge fans and we were really excited,” says Eva. “The secrecy around it was such that we had to sign a strict confidentiality agreement.”

BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE

These days, marauding armies at the gates have given way to tourists eager to roam the castle’s impressive halls. Eva has laid on historical re-enactments and the souvenir shop stocks toy swords and shields for aspiring little knights errant. She throws open their doors for weddings and conferences.