Castell de Lillet

Standing tall on a hill in La Pobla de Lillet, the ruins of Castell de Lillet dominate the valley of the same name. A wall of fairly regular masonry stands at the top of the rock, featuring a window aperture that was used to control the old path from Berguedà to Cerdanya. The castle was later abandoned when the Mataplana family decided to build a new fortification and a population at the crossroads of this path with the valley of Lillet.

The castle's name, Lillet Vell, is linked to its abandonment and the creation of the new castell de la Pobla. A large iron cross was placed on the highest point of the rock in the 19th century. In the year 833, the church of Santa Maria was consecrated. Emma, the abbess of Sant Joan de les Abadesses, owned these lands in the 9th century. Records from 919 and 921 mention the sale of the land and the inclusion of the valley in the county of Cerdanya.

The Llinatge Lillet originated in the 12th century as feudal lords of the senyors de Mataplana. In 1297, Ramon d’Urtx and his son Hug de Mataplana granted a charter of freedom and liberties to the people of la Pobla de Lillet. Guillem de Pujol was the castellan in 1342. The barony of Mataplana, including the castell de Lillet, was sold to Pere Galceran de Pinós in 1374. By 1430, the castle was known as Lillet vell and was largely in ruins.

From the 15th century, news of the castle became increasingly scarce as it lost its importance. Although the inhabitants of the surrounding valleys requested permission to reconstruct the castle at their own expense in the following years, it appears no agreement was reached.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons