Castell de Montpalau: a medieval fortress in Pineda de Mar

Perched atop Montpalau hill, the medieval castle of Castell de Montpalau is a declared Bé Cultural d’Interès Nacional in Pineda de Mar, Maresme. This structure had a role as a fortress, not a residential function, and its remains still stand, testifying to centuries of occupation. The site has a rich history that dates back to an Iberian settlement and later continued during the Roman era.

The castle is documented from 1082, and the first character found in its history fluctuates between 1035 and 1076. The structure follows a square layout with walls of roughly 28 meters in length and width, made of roughly hewn stones bonded with lime and sand mortar. The ownership passed from the Cabrera family to the Montcada family in 1566, and later to the house of Medinaceli in 1756.

The southern wall boasts a double-arched window with a flat interior lintel and three smaller successive arches towards the interior. Only the foundations of the walls on the east and north sides remain from the medieval fortress, while a wall of different characteristics is located at the northeast angle.

The castle features the remains of a chapel dedicated to Sant Miquel, which is documented from the 12th century. Although the chapel is located at a lower level than the 15th-century remodeling wall, it is clearly a later construction and appears to have been left unused.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons