Castell de Balsareny: A Catalan Gothic Fortress in Spain

The Castell de Balsareny is a remarkable fortress located on top of a hill over the municipality of Balsareny, Barcelona province, Catalonia, Spain. It is dated to 951 and has always been linked to the Balsareny lineage. It is in an excellent state of conservation and has elements from the 14th and 15th centuries, and was reformed in the 19th century. The current well-preserved structure has Gothic architectural style. Near the castle you can visit the Romanesque chapel of the Mare de Déu del Castell, from the 12th century, with later modifications.

The first person who appears in records with the name Balsareny is a county vicar, Guifred de Balsareny, who in 1009 bought a houses in the village of Balsareny. The castle has been rebuilt, though, and belonged to various families over the centuries such as the Oliver, Corbera-Santcliment, Martín, and the marquesses of Alos. It was a stage for power struggles during the First Carlism Wars in the late 19th century, undergoing damages during the First Carlism War (1833-1840).

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons