Peñaranda Castle is a large fortress that clearly dominates the village. Although the first defenses of Peñaranda may have been built at the same time as its repopulation, most of what remains today can be attributed to the first Count of Miranda, between the mid- and late 15th century. It bears a strong resemblance to other castles in the riverside region, such as those of Peñafiel and Gormaz, and also repeats the advantageous location between a mountain and a river, as seen in Burgos, Frías, and Castrojeriz. Its elongated and broken layout adapts perfectly to the steep rock on which it stands, the famous Peña de Aranda, occupying approximately the western half of it. The entrance gate is to the east, separated from the rest by a moat dug into the rock.