Castell de Mediona: A Medieval Fortified Stronghold in Sant Joan de Mediona, Spain

Visitor Information

Google Rating: 4.3

Popularity: Low

Official Website: castelldemediona.wordpress.com

Country: Spain

Civilization: Medieval European, Modern

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Castell de Mediona is located in the municipality of Sant Joan de Mediona, Spain. It was originally established and developed by medieval Christian nobility as a fortified stronghold, with its origins dating back to the early Middle Ages.

The earliest record of the settlement using the name “Mediona” dates to the year 954. The castle itself appears in historical documents by 1011, associated with a donation involving lands and a mill by the nearby Bitlles river. The site was closely linked to the Mediona family, with individuals such as Guifred (also referred to as Guillem) de Mediona, the son of Sisemund de Oló and grandson of the Girona viscount Guiniguís Mascaró. Guifred played a significant role in regional defense and expansion when, in 1015, Bishop Borrell of Vic charged him with repopulating and protecting frontier areas of the diocese. His military commitment culminated in his death during combat against Saracen forces in 1032.

By the mid-11th century, the castle was governed by Ramon de Mediona, with his brother Bernat acting as castellan, the appointed castle guardian or governor. Ramon joined forces with Mir Geribert in opposition to Count Ramon Berenguer I of Barcelona, reflecting the turbulent power struggles of the period.

Ownership of the castle shifted during the 12th century when control passed to the noble Cabrera family, although the Mediona family maintained the leadership role of castellan. Notably, in 1194 Ponç de Cabrera pledged the castle to King Alfonso II, indicating political realignment. Later, in 1226, Viscount Guerau IV of Cabrera transferred overarching authority of the castle to the Knights Templar, a military and religious order active throughout medieval Europe.

In 1242, the Cardona family assumed lordship of the castle, retaining broad jurisdictional rights until the feudal system was dismantled in the 19th century. The castellan position changed hands in 1266 when Bernat de Barberà was granted this role, a title held by his descendants until 1616. At that time, Enric de Barberà sold the castellanship to Joan Ferrer, a merchant, whose family continued in this capacity through the 19th century.

Remains

The remains of Castell de Mediona reveal a complex and evolving fortification adapted across several centuries. Initially, the castle featured a rectangular fortified enclosure with thick stone walls. Among the oldest surviving elements is a semicircular watchtower measuring roughly five meters in length and three meters in width. This tower, partially damaged at the first-floor level, functioned as an early defensive lookout. An eastern enclosure wall, about 1.2 meters thick, partially survives alongside this tower.

Early expansions extended the enclosure eastward along the hilltop, where remnants of a second watchtower and a cistern are found. Some walls from this period exhibit a building technique known as opus spicatum, a herringbone pattern of stonework dating to the 10th century, suggesting these sections were constructed in the castle’s earliest phase and later enlarged.

A substantial second phase of construction occurred during the late 13th or early 14th century. During this time, the southwest portion of the castle was fortified by newly built walls that connected the original watchtower to a bastion made from rammed earth on a stone foundation. This bastion measured approximately 2.4 meters long, 1.2 meters wide, and 1.2 meters high. It included arrow slits for defense and drainage features, pointing to significant military enhancements. This bastion linked to a rectangular Gothic-style hall characterized by five pointed arches supporting its structure, indicative of the architectural design of the period.

In a third phase, likely between the late 14th and 15th centuries, the Gothic hall and bastion experienced partial demolition or modification. During the 15th century, new construction added a square tower at the southwest end, rising at least two stories high. Ceramic fragments found during archaeological investigations date this tower precisely to that century. Another square tower from the same period, alongside the castle’s main entrance gate, is located at the northeast end along the ascent following the Mediona river.

Within the castle’s walls stands the church dedicated to Santa Maria. This religious building features a single nave covered by a pointed Gothic vault and ends in a polygonal apse, architectural qualities dating the church to the 14th century. The church is significant for housing the locally venerated Christ of Mediona. In 1936, the building suffered fire damage but was reconstructed by 1940, preserving its historical and spiritual importance within the castle enclosure.