The hidden chest of the decaying castle church

The hidden chest of the decaying castle church

Deep in a Spanish valley, the walls of a castle church have lingered in ruins for five centuries, buried by the brambles. But they were still hiding various documents until 20 years ago.

At the southern end of the serra del Cucut, on the slope of the rock of Pelat, is the tiny village of Sant Sadurní de la Fabregada. It sits at the foot of a crumbling castle ruin, and a church that shares its name. The church, one of the largest off-road, has a jagged, intricate ruined form not what one expects in this fertile valley. But the surprise does not stop there. For five centuries, this church was not just a ruin, but a hidden repository. Throughout the centuries, various documents were hidden in its walls, from the castle's deeds to the parish registers of the village. These documents provided a unique insight into the lives of the people who once called this place home.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nik Frost

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