Castell de Montmagastre, Castle ruins in Montmagastre, Spain
Castell de Montmagastre is a ruined medieval stone castle in the village of Montmagastre, Spain. The remaining structure sits on a hill about 732 meters high and includes a broken circular tower and scattered low walls built from small stones and mortar.
The first written record of the castle dates to 926, when a priest named Gaudí gave land that included this fortification to a monastery. It stayed a border stronghold through the 11th century, changed owners among noble families, and later suffered heavy damage during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.
Visitors can still see traces of an old cemetery with simple tombstones near the hilltop, along with remains of village paths and field boundaries. These leftovers show that this high ground once supported daily life, not just military watchkeeping.
Reaching the ruins requires a steep uphill walk along a rough trail that starts behind an old water tank, so sturdy shoes help. The ground is uneven and overgrown in places, and there is little shade near the top, so go slowly and carry water.
Trenches dug into the hillside during the fighting of the late 1930s are still visible among the older ruins. This means the ground holds two layers of damage from very different wars, separated by about nine centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
