Castell de la Geltrú, château fort espagnol
Castell de la Geltrú is a medieval castle built between the 12th and 15th centuries that looks more like a noble house than a fortress today. The building has a rectangular shape with two floors, a central courtyard with pointed arches from the 15th century, and its oldest part is a square tower on the east side dating from the 12th century.
The castle was first mentioned in 999 in a document describing land sales in the area. During the 12th and 13th centuries, various noble families controlled it, with the Ribes family being the main owners for many years.
The name Geltrú comes from the medieval period of the region. Today, the community uses the castle courtyard regularly for weddings and local celebrations, showing how this historic site remains alive for residents.
The castle is located in the center of Vilanova i la Geltrú and is easily reached with nearby parking and good public transport connections. Visitors can walk comfortably from the old town through cobblestone streets and should wear comfortable shoes since the walkways are uneven.
In the 1860s an attempt was made to demolish the castle and a round tower was lost in the process. Between 1918 and 1920 it was carefully restored and now serves as a repository for the town's local archives.
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