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Castles in Barcelona
Barcelona is home to one of the most majestic castles in Europe, The Castle Montjuic, which sits proudly on the Montjuic hill overlooking the city. Originally the castle was just a watch tower on top of the hill used to identify approaching enemy ships, but over the years it has increased in size. It has had many uses and up until 1960 it was operated as a military prison. After three years of construction work, the Spanish dictator Franco invested in a new military museum there. Today the castle is home to a museum about Spanish history. Another castle located close to the city and well worth visiting is the fabulous Parador Castle. It stands majestically on an attractive cape, in a fortified 9th-century enclosed area. There is also a 2nd-century Minyona tower and an 11th-century church, which portrays well the feautres of the Catalan Romanesque architecture. It offers stunning views of the area and the River Cardoner.
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Castell de Montjuic
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Address: Caretera de Montjuic 66
Phone: +34 93 329 86 13
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Castell de Montjuic or Montjuic Castle, dominates over the beautiful city of Barcelona, situated right on top of
the hill of Montjuic at an impressive height offering breathtaking views over the whole city area and the sea. The castle
has a long history that stretches back to the middle of the 17th Century. Its construction was finished in 1640 and for
more than two centuries it was used for the repression of anarchists and other people that didn't obey the royal authority.
In 1751, the fortress, which also served as watchtower, acquired its present appearance after a refurbishment by the
recognised engineer, Juan Manuel Cermeno. Under Franco's regime Castell de Montjuic was turned into a political
prison for his enemies. Today the castle hosts the only statue of General Franco in Barcelona. Another attraction for
visitors is the military museum on the premises of the fortress. From a historical and architectural point of view, the
bastions San Carlos and Santa Amalia, named after King Carlos III and his wife, present special interest. No less
remarkable is the sculpture of the aviator Juan Manuel Duran, who made a non-stop transatlantic flight from Spain to
Argentina in 1926. This real Medieval treasure can be admired by tourists every day of the week and on Sundays
guided tours are available.
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Castell Cartoixa de Vallparadis
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Address: Carrer de Salmeron 17
Phone: +34 93 785 71 44
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Castell Cartoixa de Vallparadis is situated in the town of Terrassa in the autonomous community of Barcelona. The origins of the structure date back to the early 12th Century. For a short period between 1344 and 1413 it was a Carthusian monastery. Today the well-preserved monument houses the Municipal Museum of Terrassa. The castle, lying amidst a beautiful park, is accessible to the public every day (except Mondays) and the entrance is free. Guided tours are organised for groups by appointment.
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Castell de Castellet
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Address: Placa del Castell
e-mail: info@fundacioabertis.org
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Castell de Castellet ranks among the most important tourist attractions in the vicinity of Barcelona with more than 20,000 visitors per year. The Medieval fortress is situated in the tiny, yet charming municipality of Castellet y la Gornal south of the million city. The first information about the Castellet Castle dates back to 977 when it was mentioned in a written document for the first time. During the 10th and 11th Centuries the castle was a part of the strong row of fortifications in the area that marked the frontier between modern-day Catalonia and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula that was
controlled by the Moors. They played an important role in the prevention of Muslim invasion in the north. The major significance of Castell de Castellet persisted until the 16th Century, in spite of the rapid changes of its owners. Then it was abandoned and gradually went to ruin. In the late 1920s, the site underwent some partial restoration works in order to be declared a monument of national importance, but the change in its legal status didn't help its preservation much. Nevertheless, today the castle still draws crowds of tourists who can become acquainted with its history during the guided group tours of the fortress every weekend. The picturesque location of the castle with view over the Foix Park makes it a pleasant day-trip destination for citizens and guests of Barcelona.
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Castell d'Olerdola
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Address: Ctra. Del Castel
Phone: +34 93 424 65 77
e-mail: difusiomac@correu.gencat.es
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Castell d'Olerdola is situated in the municipality of the same name to the south of Barcelona. The castle today
represents a ruin of fortified Medieval area that saw its heyday between the 10th and the 13th Centuries when it was in
the front line of the defense against the Muslim invasion. With the driving away of the Muslims and the subsequent
calming down of the situation in the area, this fortification lost its significance and was gradually abandoned. Now, it
houses the Olerdola branch of the Catalan Archaeological Museum and offers rich collections of ancient exhibits,
some of which are dated from the late Bronze Age.
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Castell de Plegamans
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Address: Calle del Castell 1
Phone: +34 93 864 80 73
e-mail: arxiu@fundaciofolchitorres.org
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Castell de Plegamans is situated in the small charming village of Palau-Solita y Plegamans in the western end of
the province of Barcelona. The fortress has a long history, having been destroyed, rebuilt and refurbished several
times. Today, its main appeal is the Folch y Torres Foundation, a private non-profit organisation which has its headquarters in the castle. The foundation was founded in 1992 with the aim of preserving works and artefacts that concern the five Folch y Torres brothers: Manuel, Lluis, Josep Maria, Ignasi and Joaquim, all being famous writers
from the beginning of the 20th Century and closely related to Castell de Plegamans. In addition, the foundation has
committed itself to maintaining the castle. Guided tours of the venue are organised by the foundation on Sundays
and holidays, but reservations must be made in advance.
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Castell de Gelida
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Address: Gelida
Phone: +34 93 779 01 46
e-mail: ci@castellgelida.org
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Website: http://www.castellgelida.org/
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Castell de Gelida, a ruin-like fortification with more than 1,000 years of history, is located picturesquely above the small township of the same name in the province of Barcelona. The first written reports concerning the castle date back to the year 945 when it was part of the massive fortifications in the area of Penedes. Later, in the
12th Century, the settlement of Gelida was formed. During the late Middle Ages, Castell de Gelida was residence of
Berenguer Bertran and Pere IV until it was almost demolished during the 18th Century. Today, archaeology and
history buffs are the main visitors. Guided tours are available by appointment.
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Besora Castle
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Address: Santa Maria de Besora
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The Besora Castle is situated in the small Catalan municipality of Santa Maria de Besora with a population of only 150 people,
in the mountains to the west of Barcelona. Although today the site is practicaly in ruins, it has known much better times when it was a Medieval fortress of strategic importance. The origins of this monument reach back to the end of the 10th Century when it was the centre of expansion of the Santa Maria de Besora territories. There used to be a Medieval chapel inside the fortress until it was blown-up by the realistic troops in the first Carlist war in
1838.
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Castell de Montesquiu
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Address: Montesquiu
Phone: +34 93 852 92 34
e-mail: montesquiu@lavola.com
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Castell de Montesquiu started its centuries-long history as a small simple watchtower above the Ter River,
which is said to have been built by Guifre el Pilos in the 9th Century. Over the next two hundred years or so the humble
construction served as a guardhouse, which can nowadays be easily seen from the contemporary structure of the castle. In the
14th Century the castle was used as a residence by the local nobleman Arnau Guillem de Besora instead of the less
comfortable Besora Castle that lies nearby. In the 17th Century, the construction acquired its current appearance after
a great expansion, carried out by the Descatlar family. They built the chapel of Santa Barbara, the fountain and
formed the garden around the castle. Today, Castell de Montesquiu, together with the adjoining park, is owned by
the Regional Government of Barcelona, and since 1986 it has the status of a regional park. Some measures for
restoration and preservation of the area have been undertaken and as a result, the interior was furnished with unique
elements and decorations. Especially attractive is the museum that presents the history of the venue, as well as the
surrounding landscape which is among the most beautiful in Catalonia. The complex is open for public visits at weekends when free guided tours are available (for groups).
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