Castell de Saburella: A Medieval Catalan Castle in Querol, Spain

Visitor Information

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Official Website: invarquit.cultura.gencat.cat

Country: Spain

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

The Castell de Saburella is located in the municipality of Querol, Spain. It was constructed by the medieval Catalan civilization following the Reconquista, a period marked by the Christian kingdoms’ efforts to reclaim territory from Muslim rule.

The castle likely arose between the late 12th and early 13th centuries amid regional conflicts. Its creation is connected to disputes involving the nearby Castell de Selmella and tensions between the monastery of Santes Creus and the influential Cervelló family. These rivalries shaped much of the castle’s early history.

The first document mentioning Castell de Saburella appears in 1229 within the will of Ramon Alemany de Cervelló. In this testament, Ramon ordered the establishment of a chapel dedicated to Saint Michael inside the castle, along with provisions to fund the chapel’s upkeep and the chaplain’s support. The castle was intended to serve as a residence for Guillem de Claramunt, Ramon’s brother-in-law, though Guillem passed away during the Mallorca expedition, a military campaign of the era.

Throughout the following century, the Cervelló family maintained control of the castle. This was officially recognized in a royal order issued in 1380 by King Pere III the Ceremonious. The king commanded the return of several castles, including Saburella, to the Cervelló lineage after they had temporarily come under crown occupation.

By 1481, the Castell de Saburella had taken on an administrative role, marking the boundary of the territory belonging to Pont d’Armentera. This function reflects the castle’s continued importance in local governance and territorial organization into the late medieval period.

Remains

Castell de Saburella is perched atop a conical hill rising 683 meters above sea level, on the right bank of the Gaià River near the Comadevaques stream from the Vallespinosa area. Its location offers extensive views of surrounding landmarks, including Sant Miquel de Montclar to the north and the Formigosa peak to the northeast, with the Camp de Tarragona and the Gaià valley visible toward the south.

The castle occupies a relatively flat space on the hilltop, an area formerly cultivated and bordered by holm oak groves, with white pine forest growing nearby. This setting suggests a landscape shaped by both natural vegetation and human agricultural activity.

Among the castle’s structural elements, one of its three semicircular towers stands notably well preserved, retaining much of its original form. This tower, alongside a section of the curtain wall that once encircled the fortress, remains largely intact, offering a glimpse into the defensive design favored in the castle’s historical period.

These surviving features reflect the typical medieval fortification style, adapted to the terrain and built using local materials. While detailed records about construction materials or decorative aspects are unavailable, the preservation of the tower and wall segment allows an understanding of the castle’s defensive layout as it stood centuries ago.