Castell de Montpalau, Medieval castle ruins in Pineda de Mar, Spain
Castell de Montpalau is a medieval castle ruin on a hilltop with remaining stone walls arranged in a square layout and a cylindrical tower at its center. The structure features yellowish stone blocks at the corners combined with irregular stonework in the walls, and preserves a rounded window opening.
The fortress originated in the 11th century when Umbert Odó and his wife Sicardis pledged loyalty to Count Ramon Berenguer I of Barcelona. The hilltop had been occupied much earlier, as remnants of settlement from the 4th century BC indicate.
The site shows traces of ancient settlement whose stones were later reused in medieval construction. This layering of materials reflects how people reshaped the same place across different eras.
Reaching the castle requires about a half-hour uphill walk from the parking area, passing a small hermitage and water reservoir along the way. Sturdy footwear is advisable since the path is steep and uneven in places.
The castle displays an unusual combination of fine yellowish stone blocks and rougher fieldstone, suggesting different construction phases or repairs over time. This patchwork of materials reveals how earlier generations worked to maintain and reinforce the structure.
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