Castell de Piera: A Historic Castle in Piera, Spain

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.castelldepiera.es

Country: Spain

Civilization: Medieval European

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Castell de Piera is located in the municipality of Piera, Spain, and stands on a site with origins dating back to the Iberian civilization. Although some historians speculate a Roman foundation, documented records begin in the mid-10th century under the name Castrum Apiaria, reflecting its early medieval identity.

From 955 AD, the castle was known as Castell de Fontanet before later becoming Castell de Piera. Between 963 and 1010, it belonged to the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès, indicating its early religious connections. Subsequently, ownership passed to the viscounty of Barcelona. In 1030, Udalard, son of the viscount Guitard, transferred the castle to his wife Riquilda. By 1063, the castle was under the control of Ramon Berenguer I and thereafter remained with his descendants, who held titles as lords of Piera.

King James I of Aragon made frequent stays at the castle in the 13th century, notably residing there from August to December 1268. In 1264, he granted local privileges to Piera’s vassals allowing them to settle legal disputes within their community. Following this, in 1265 James I granted the castle to the Sescorts family, also known as Curtibus. This knightly family were masters of the Order of Saint George of Alfama and received the castle as a reward for their support in the conquest of Valencia. Their obligation included hosting the king and his entourage during royal visits, emphasizing the castle’s role in both feudal loyalty and military service.

The Sescorts family maintained possession of Castell de Piera until the 18th century. Through inheritance and legal disputes, ownership then transferred to the Aguilera-Viala lineage. With the abolition of feudal lordships in the 19th century, the castle became private property, remaining in the hands of descendants from these families.

Alongside family ownership, the castle’s history features several notable political transfers. In 1280, Peter III granted it to Guillem Ramón de Cardona, while in 1285 it was ceded to the Poblet monastery. King Alfonso III reincorporated it into the royal domain in 1291, and it later passed to the County of Urgell. King Ferdinand of Antequera confiscated the castle in 1416. In 1431, Alfonso V sold the barony of Piera to the monastery of Pedralbes, which maintained jurisdiction and control of the castle for a significant period.

The monastery’s first abbess and baroness was Elisenda de Moncada, marking its influence in the region. In 1461, the castle served as a refuge for Juana Enríquez amid political turmoil, indicating its strategic importance. During the Catalan Civil War, the monastery temporarily lost control and the lordship was granted to Pere Daura. Later in 1472, the monastery hosted critical negotiations leading to Barcelona’s capitulation.

In 1531, Emperor Charles I confirmed the traditional tithes owed by Piera’s inhabitants to the monastery, highlighting sustained economic and administrative ties. The mid-18th century saw the monastery enforce heraldic restrictions on Piera’s symbols, a decision reversed following the abolition of lordships in 1822. A 1759 court ruling reduced tributes to the monastery, specifying annual payments in both currency and goods.

In the early 19th century, during the desamortización—the state confiscation and sale of church assets—the castle passed to Ventura de Viala, Baron of Almenar. His family had longstanding ties to the Sescorts since the 14th century. Ventura Fernando de Viala Aguilera Llopis was later honored by King Ferdinand VII with the title Viscount of the Castle of Saint George for his prominent role in the War of Independence.

A significant restoration was carried out in 1916 under Ramón de Viala y de Ayguavives, Baron of Almenar, with a commemorative plaque marking this event. Since that time, the castle has changed hands several times and is presently owned by the Oliveras Sastre-Marqués family.

Remains

Castell de Piera is positioned atop a modest hill beside the church of Santa Maria, overlooking the Anoia river valley near Penedès. The castle’s layout consists primarily of a single main building with a tower at one corner, enclosed by defensive walls that once provided protection. Access to the site is gained via a terrace adjacent to the church.

The tower, rebuilt during the 1916 restoration on its original foundations, is a defining feature. Around the same time, the enclosing walls were repaired, and an attached building historically used as a residence for the castle’s caretakers, known traditionally as the masoveria, was also restored. New windows were added to bring light into the interior spaces.

Inside, the ground floor preserves its original plan, characterized by thick stone walls approximately two meters wide. It features a vaulted ceiling supported centrally by a robust column, exemplifying medieval construction techniques designed to bear heavy loads above. A grand staircase from this level leads to the upper floor, where nineteenth-century decorative elements are evident. The upper rooms display wooden ceilings and a mix of furniture styles, with the dining area containing a large fireplace, reflecting later modifications for residential comfort.

Fragments of the original defensive walls remain around the castle grounds, offering insight into the former perimeter that likely enclosed not only the castle but also the original church of Santa Maria. Historical suggestions propose that the church was once part of the fortified enclosure, indicating a close relationship between religious and military functions on the site.

Today, Castell de Piera stands as an officially recognized Cultural Asset of National Interest, with its architectural features revealing layers of construction, adaptation, and restoration spanning many centuries.