Castell de Penella: A Thirteenth-Century Rural Castle in Spain
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.3
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- Spain
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Crown of Aragon, Kingdom of Valencia
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page7 sections
History
Castell de Penella, also called Castell de les Penelles, is a late-thirteenth-century castle in Spain, in the municipality of Cocentaina near Benilloba. It was built during the early period of Christian rule in the region after the Christian conquest, following the rural-castle and fortified-manor tradition. Its construction was authorized in 1271 by James I of Aragon, the medieval king who expanded the Crown of Aragon into territories that later formed part of the Kingdom of Valencia.
Foundation under Ponç Guillem de Villafranca
In 1271, James I granted Ponç Guillem de Villafranca the settlements of Peniella and Forminyàn and gave him permission to build a castle on the rock of Peniella. The new fortress became associated with the lordship of Penella and Forminyàn under Ponç Guillem de Villafranca. Although the castle stands only a few metres from the neighboring settlement of Benilloba, it has historically remained linked to Cocentaina.
Protection and literary memory
Castell de Penella was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest on 9 October 1996 and forms part of Alicante Province’s protected cultural heritage. The castle is now ruined, and Cocentaina Town Council took charge of its restoration in 2003.
The fortress also appears in Enric Valor’s tale The Gloves of Happiness. Valor, a Valencian writer and folklorist, presents it as the castle of the lord of Penella, Raül de Mataplana, and his son Carles. These fictional figures make the castle an important setting in the story.
Remains
Crag and fortified enclosure
The castle occupies the summit of a limestone crag about 7 kilometres from Cocentaina. Vertical cliffs naturally defend the northern side of the rock. The fortress was constructed with rammed earth, made by compacting earth within forms, over a levelled masonry base. Both the stonework and the rammed-earth construction remain visible in the surviving fabric.
Keep
The principal surviving feature is a square keep, the castle’s main fortified tower. It measures approximately 4 metres on each side and rises 12 metres high. Attached to the fortification wall, the tower retains a crenellated upper section, with raised blocks separated by openings.
Attached building and enclosure
A second quadrangular building is attached to the keep and also has crenellations. Several sections of the fortified enclosure wall survive, along with remains of additional towers and auxiliary structures. Archaeological remains from the same period as the castle have been found near the site. The fortress remains in a ruined condition, while its principal tower and parts of the enclosure are still visible.
