Alcázar

An alcázar (, ), alcácer or alcàsser is a type of castle in Spain and Portugal built by kings to live in. The term derives from the Arabic word القصر (trans. al-qasr) meaning "fort, castle or palace" while the Arabic word is possibly in turn derived from the Latin word 'castrum', meaning an army camp or fort. Many cities in Spain have an alcázar; Spain also has Moorish citadels known as alcazabas. Not all castles in Spain are called alcázar, the majority are called castillo. Not every 'alcazar' or 'alcazaba' in Iberia was built by the Moors; many castles with these names were built after the Moors had withdrawn from the Iberian Peninsula.