The 12th-century Romanesque fort of Castell de Gardeny

In the 12th century, the Knights Templar erected their Romanesque fortress, known as Castell de Gardeny, a mile from Lleida's primary fortress, the Castle of La Suda. This castle served as a protective barrier for the only accessible side of La Suda. By the 20th century, only the palace and church of Santa María de Gardeny remained. Archaeological investigations in 2005 reveal that the church and palace were initially standalone structures, later connected by a corridor or sacristy.

François Collignon's middle oblique view, crafted between 1647 and 1687, offers a glimpse into Gardeny’s location in relation to the city walls, showcasing Lleida's principal castle, the old cathedral, and the bishop's palace. During the 19th century, at the time of Suchet’s siege of Lleida and its two castles - La Suda and Gardeny - the area also had the two strong fortifications of San Fernando and Pilar.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons