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Welcome to Palafolls Castle

From watchtower to great medieval fortress

Palafolls Castle overlooks the lower reaches of the Tordera river, a natural corridor between the coast and the interior that is still of great territorial importance today. This strategic position explains why the site was occupied and how it was transformed into a great medieval fortress.

The complex has been declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest (BCIN).

Archaeological evidence places its origins between the 9th and 10th centuries. From the 11th century onwards, it was linked to the Palafolls lineage, which gave its name to the fortress and to the barony.

Power was shared between the viscounts of Cabrera, who held high jurisdiction, and the lords of Palafolls, who were responsible for civil affairs and for part of the seigneurial rights. In 1382 the castle and the barony were definitively incorporated into the Viscounty of Cabrera.

In recent years, the excavations and restoration works led by the Town Council, with the support of NextGenerationEU funds, have made it possible to understand the site better and to consolidate it. The process is still ongoing, however: some sectors cannot be visited yet because they are awaiting excavation, study or preparation to ensure their safety and conservation.

Visitor rules

  • Respect the monument
  • Do not climb on the walls
  • Keep an eye on children at all times
  • Do not remove stones or archaeological material
  • Do not light fires or leave litter
  • Dogs are not allowed, except guide dogs
  • Take extra care in wind, rain or other hazardous weather

A viewpoint over the Tordera and its history

The surrounding landscape seen from the castle

Palafolls Castle occupies a commanding position over the lower Tordera, between the Maresme and the Selva. From here you can take in the river, the farming plain, the historic settlements, the coastline and the mountain ranges that frame the landscape.

This position explains the castle’s role in controlling the roads, the crossing points and the settlements that were part of its former domain: Sant Genís, les Ferreries, Santa Susanna, Malgrat—the former Vilanova de Palafolls—and part of Blanes. From 1382, Palafolls formed part of the Viscounty of Cabrera, one of the great seigneurial domains of medieval Catalonia.

Today, the castle is a viewpoint over the surrounding landscape. The skyline lets you recognise the relationship between the fortress, the Tordera, the nearby settlements and the landscape that explains its importance.