Castell de Vallespinosa: A Medieval Fortress in Spain
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.3
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Spain
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Crown of Aragon
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page6 sections
History
Medieval origins
Castell de Vallespinosa is a ruined fortress in Spain, at Vallespinosa in the Conca de Barberà. Its construction dates to the twelfth century, while the earliest documentary record dates from 1030. In 1174, the nobleman Berenguer de Clariana donated the castle to the Monastery of Santes Creus, a major Cistercian monastery in Catalonia.
Attacks and destruction
At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Catalan bandit Perot Rocaguinarda attacked Castell de Vallespinosa and caused extensive damage. The castle was destroyed in 1648 during the Reapers’ War, a conflict in which Catalan forces rebelled against the Spanish monarchy with important French support.
At the time of its destruction, the castle belonged to Josep de Margarit i de Biure. He led the Catalan militias, served as governor general of Catalonia, and was one of the strongest defenders of French policy. A Castilian army assaulted the fortress and destroyed it during the conflict.
Heritage status
The surviving remains are protected as a Cultural Asset of National Interest, a high-level Catalan designation for monuments and other culturally important sites. The castle is also registered as a Spanish Asset of Cultural Interest, with this designation in force since 1988. Its heritage-register reference is RI-51-0006724, and its Catalan architectural-inventory identification is 1615.
Remains
Fortress enclosure
The castle ruin stands at Vallespinosa, in the municipality of Pontils, at an elevation of 696 metres. Only a circular-plan tower and part of the wall perimeter survive. The perimeter formed a double enclosure built from small masonry blocks bonded with lime mortar. Two portals were still present before the Spanish Civil War.
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