Castell de Gelida: A Medieval Fortress in Spain

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.castellgelida.org

Country: Spain

Civilization: Early Modern, Medieval European

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Castell de Gelida is a medieval fortress situated in the town of Gelida, within present-day Spain. It was originally constructed by the Christian counts of Barcelona during the early stages of the Middle Ages, serving both defensive and administrative purposes in the region.

The castle is first mentioned in a historic record dating to the year 945. At that time, Riquilda, Countess of Barcelona and spouse of Count Sunyer I, donated the castle’s lands to support the monastery of Santa Cecília de Montserrat. This deed links the castle’s early history closely with the monastery and suggests ecclesiastical influence over the territory in the mid-10th century.

Following this, the castell was controlled by the noble Cervelló family for several centuries. One important figure, Ènnyec Bonfill, obtained the fortress through an exchange arrangement. Later, in 1267, Guerau de Cervelló granted privileges to the local population, indicating the castle’s role as a center of lordship and local governance. Towards the end of the 13th century, ownership changed hands multiple times: Guerau VII sold the castle to King James II of Aragon in 1297, who then transferred it to the Counts of Pallars. Subsequently, the property passed through the Arborea family before coming into the possession of the Bertran family in 1367.

During the early 12th century, the castle faced a period of military threat when Almoravid forces advanced to its walls. Although the fortification was likely resilient enough to prevent their incursion, this episode highlights the fortress’s strategic position amid ongoing conflicts during the Reconquista. In the 15th century, the lord of Gelida aligned with opponents of King Joan II during the Catalan civil war. The royal figure Pere the Constable stayed at the castle in 1465, which led to the temporary loss of control by the Bertran family. Nevertheless, the family managed to regain their standing after reaffirming loyalty to Joan II.

By the 16th century, the castle passed to the Erill family, who undertook minor repairs to its structures. It is believed, though not documented, that King Philip V ordered the dismantling of Castell de Gelida following the War of Spanish Succession in the early 18th century. Throughout that century, stones from the castle were repurposed for local constructions, such as the church bell tower completed in 1780, signaling its gradual decline in military and residential use.

In the modern era, interest in the fortress’s preservation emerged with the founding of the Association of Friends of the Castell de Gelida in 1965. The castle was acquired by the municipality three years later, leading to restoration work that stabilized its ruins and established facilities for visitors. In recognition of its cultural importance, the castle was declared a cultural monument in 1980. Archaeological excavations carried out in 1971 uncovered a necropolis with rock-cut graves, providing insight into the medieval community associated with the fortress.

Remains

The Castell de Gelida occupies a rocky promontory overlooking the surrounding landscape of Gelida and the Anoia River valley. Its plan adapts to the natural terrain with three successive enclosures arranged along the slope of the hill, running southeast to northwest and rising between 250 and 290 meters above sea level. The fortified complex was constructed primarily during the 11th and 12th centuries, reflecting the evolving defensive needs of the medieval occupants.

The highest enclosure sits at the southwest end, reserving a strong defensive position on the mountain side with tall walls strengthened by a distinctive semi-elliptical tower. Behind this tower lies the Plaça del Pedró, an open area within the fortification that would have served as a secure space for defenders. This bastion provided protection for the castle from attacks approaching from the elevated terrain.

Below the top enclosure, the middle section features a substantial rectangular tower dating from the 11th century. This tower not only strengthened defenses but also controlled access into the compound. From here, the fortress extends downward to the lowest enclosure, which houses the castle’s church, dedicated to Sant Pere.

The church itself stands as the only building still intact within the ruins. Its origins trace back to the pre-Romanesque period, with documentation confirming its existence since the mid-10th century. The structure consists of a single nave covered by a barrel vault, an architectural form involving a semi-cylindrical ceiling. This vault is supported by horseshoe arches, a distinctive style associated with early medieval Christian architecture in the region. The polygonal apse at the church’s eastern end, built around 1664, includes ribbed vaulting, a feature added during later modifications.

Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the church underwent several enlargements with the addition of side chapels and the opening of a new portal on the western façade. At the end of the 18th century, a bell tower was constructed adjacent to the church, incorporating stones sourced from the castle’s ruins.

Excavations in 1971 uncovered a necropolis adjacent to the castle with tombs carved directly into the rock. These graves were oriented toward the west, a pattern consistent with Christian burial customs of the medieval period. The discovery of gray pottery fragments alongside skeletal remains provides evidence of the burial practices and material culture associated with the castle’s historical community. During restoration efforts in 1979, three pre-Romanesque windows were also revealed within the church walls, underlining the building’s early medieval heritage.

Overall, the remaining structures and archaeological findings narrate the castle’s development from a fortified center of lordship to a site reflecting religious devotion and later decline, shaped by the shifting political and military landscape of medieval Catalonia.