Castell de Canyelles: A Medieval Fortress in Catalonia, Spain

Visitor Information

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Official Website: invarquit.cultura.gencat.cat

Country: Spain

Civilization: Medieval European

Remains: Military

History

The Castell de Canyelles is located in the municipality of Canyelles, Spain, and was originally constructed by the medieval Catalan civilization. Although the existing structure is primarily from the 15th century, its origins trace back to an earlier defensive tower documented as early as the late 10th century.

The earliest known record of a fortification at the site dates to 976, when a defensive tower served as an outpost linked to the nearby Castell d’Olèrdola. During this early period, the region was situated along the boundary between the Carolingian Christian domains and areas under Islamic control. By 1107, the territory fell under Almoravid rule, which caused significant depopulation of the province and led to the decline of Olèrdola. In this new political landscape, Canyelles acquired important strategic value as it controlled a key passage connecting the coastal area near Vilanova i la Geltrú with the inland town of Vilafranca del Penedès.

During the Middle Ages, the castle functioned as an auxiliary defense supporting Olèrdola and securing this vital route. Through the centuries, it was traditionally held by the Barons of Canyelles, who exercised local power including the collection of tolls from a nearby stream. Recorded owners include Dalmau Canyelles, who served as castellan of Vilafranca in the year 1200, and Guillem de Sagarriga, who received the castle as a royal grant from King Joan I in 1393. Later proprietors included noble families such as the Marquet and Terrè lineages.

Religious life at the site expanded with the establishment of the church of Santa Magdalena adjacent to the castle in 1627, founded as a parish by Bishop Joan Sentís. The barony maintained legal recognition over the centuries, confirmed by royal decree in 1769 when Raimunda de Minguella-Terré was officially acknowledged as baroness. In the 19th century, the Bouffard family undertook restoration work between 1852 and 1858, which included modifications to the castle walls and enlargement of the chapel sacristy.

Ownership changed several times throughout the 20th century. Josep Escuder i Ferrer purchased the property in 1920, and during the 1930s it was acquired by the Reguera family, who used it primarily as an agricultural estate. In 1982, Miquel Salinas i Bofill initiated renovations to adapt the fortress for residential purposes. Most recently, in 2024, Dr. Marisa López-Teijón became the owner with the intention of safeguarding its historical significance and reintegrating the site into the cultural heritage of the community.

Remains

The castle’s visible remains center chiefly on a tall circular tower that stands as a prominent feature of the complex, along with a fragment of the surrounding curtain wall. The tower, constructed mainly from roughly shaped stones arranged in horizontal rows, is integrated into the defensive wall and is positioned next to the church of Santa Magdalena, with which it shares an angular façade that strongly links the religious and military buildings.

The tower has an internal diameter just over two meters and thick base walls measuring approximately 1.35 meters. These walls gradually taper to about 0.8 meters in thickness near the top, where small narrow openings called loopholes (espitlleres) allow light and ventilation as well as serving defensive purposes. The primary entrance to the tower is believed to have been placed on the first floor, which was a common medieval military design intended to improve security.

East of the tower stands a curved section of wall roughly 1.2 meters thick, interpreted as part of the original medieval fortress. This structure remains partially intact and forms part of the defensive enclosure protecting the site. In front of the church, a porch with two flat arches provides a sheltered space, featuring built-in benches and a terrace above, which were later additions associated with 19th-century restorations.

The entire castle complex occupies the highest area of the village, making it a dominant feature on the local skyline and emphasizing its former role as both a watchtower and defensive position. Restoration efforts carried out in the mid-1800s introduced new walls at the front of the site and expanded the chapel’s sacristy, blending historic materials with more recent construction while preserving the original medieval fabric.

Recognized officially as a cultural heritage monument of national importance within Catalonia and Spain, the Castell de Canyelles remains a significant example of medieval fortification adapted over centuries to both military and religious needs, illustrating the layered history of the region.