The origins of Beteta date back to time immemorial, although its early history is not entirely clear due to the lack of extensive research. However, it is clear that this region was inhabited since the Iron Age, as evidenced by the presence of several Celtiberian forts in the vicinity. These pre-Roman peoples, who prospered from the Bronze Age until Romanization, left their mark in the form of castros: authentic elevated fortresses that offer us a window into a heroic and enigmatic past in places such as Peña del Castillo, Castillo de los Siete Condes and Los Castillejos. It is likely that another castro was located in the place where the current castle of Beteta stands, although later constructions have erased any trace of its existence.
The Celtiberian castros not only played a defensive role, but were also centers of social and economic organization. These fortified communities were strategically located on hills or elevated areas to take advantage of the visual control of the surrounding territory and to facilitate defense against possible attacks. One of the characteristic features of these settlements is the construction of dry stone walls, which delimited and protected the inhabited areas, and which can still be seen in some of these forts.
These settlements reflect the strategic and cultural importance of Beteta in ancient times, integrating it into the vast network of communities that occupied the peninsula before the arrival of the Romans. Currently, it is only possible to visit the castro of Castillo de los Siete Condes.
