Castell de Bellveí: A Medieval Fortress and Manor in Torrefeta i Florejacs, Spain

Visitor Information

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Official Website: invarquit.cultura.gencat.cat

Country: Spain

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

The Castell de Bellveí is situated in the village of Bellveí, within the municipality of Torrefeta i Florejacs in Spain. It was originally established as a military fortress by medieval Christian powers in the early Middle Ages.

The castle’s history begins in the early 11th century when it came under the control of the counts and bishops of Urgell. One of the earliest records dates to 1040, when Bellveí was documented as one of several fortresses belonging to the canonry of the Seu d’Urgell cathedral chapter. By 1046–1047, written sources confirm the castle’s subordination to the Urgell church, as bishop Guillem of Urgell and the canons transferred the castle to viscount Guillem Miró. This exchange was part of an agreement involving his father Miró and bishop Ermengol, who passed away in 1035, indicating that the castle was already standing before that time.

During the mid-11th century, Bellveí formed an autonomous district within the larger territory of Guissona, a status documented in land transactions from 1047 involving local inhabitants. Individuals taking the Bellveí name appear in records throughout the 12th and 13th centuries, indicating the establishment of a local identity connected to the castle and surrounding lands.

In the 14th century, control of the castle shifted to the Sacirera family. Population records from this time detail a modest community, with a count of 10 hearths between 1365 and 1370, growing slightly to 14 hearths by 1380. The following century saw the Agulló-Pinós family assume lordship. This family retained their rights over Bellveí until the abolition of feudal jurisdictions in the 19th century. Notably, in the early 18th century, the Agulló-Pinós lords were granted the title Marquisate of Gironella by King Philip V of Spain.

Remains

The Castell de Bellveí began as a fortified military stronghold, though by the 16th century it was transformed into a large manor house, reflecting a shift from defense to residential use. Today, the structure remains largely as a manor divided into separate homes, with notable alterations over time. The construction likely dates to the period of Miquel d’Agulló and de Pinós, connected to the castle’s later lords.

The castle’s west façade is architecturally prominent, featuring an entrance on the right side with a stone lintel that bears the inscription “FETA A FER PER RAMON GADIEL,” which translates from Catalan as “Made to be done by Ramon Gadiel.” On the second floor, two balcony doors stand out, each with wrought iron railings. One lintel is dated 1700, indicating renovation or construction activity during that era. This side also has two simple windows with modest stone sills.

Facing north, the façade is supported by a large buttress, reinforcing the wall structure. The second floor on this side includes a balcony door with iron railings and an adjacent simple window. Above these, two rectangular windows cap the upper floor, providing light and ventilation.

The southeast façade is notable for its large staircase leading up to a cylindrical structure that once served as a cistern, used for collecting and storing water. Some of the openings here have been blocked due to deterioration, reflecting ongoing structural challenges. This element illustrates the castle’s adaptation to residential and practical needs over time.

On the south side, a sequence of rectangular windows of varying sizes punctuates the wall, contributing to the overall appearance of a manor house rather than a fortress. The combination of these features reveals the building’s layered history, transitioning from medieval fortress to domestic residence within the village of Bellveí.