Anoia is a land of castles!
Anoia is a land of castles!
Perched on a hill or waiting for us at the end of a path, the Anoia region is a land of castles and watchtowers, reminders of a turbulent medieval past that has left its mark in the form of buildings full of history. Built to defend the territory in a time of struggle, these medieval constructions are a good starting point to learn about the past of the region and of Catalonia.
If you want to explore them and discover all the stories hidden in these fortifications, there is a mobile application, “Anoia, terra de castells” where, through a historical recreation, you can explore the experiences of different real characters and complement them with information about the heritage and tourist elements of the castles and the municipalities where they are located. The app allows you to live an experience in real time, since to know the outcome of the story you must go to the castle itself. There you can download an audio containing a small dramatized representation with which you can delve into the facts hidden behind the history of the castle.
Visiting Anoia is discovering a diverse region halfway between Montserrat, the vineyards of Penedès and the Plana de Lleida. The fact that it was a border area favoured the construction of towers and castles that were the scene of the reconquest and the afforestation of the lands, later becoming administrative centres and places of residence for the feudal families of the area, first families such as Claramunt, Tous, Òdena or Montbui and later the Cardonas.
Some of the castles in the region also offer the option of taking a guided tour of their interior led by a professional. All the information you need to organise your route through Anoia can be found at anoiaturisme.cat.
Thematic routes to discover the Castles
To facilitate the exploration of this rich heritage, various thematic routes have been created that allow visitors to discover the secrets of the castles of Anoia:
Route 1: The inheritance of Guifré el Pilós (11th-12th centuries)
During the time of Guifré el Pilós, the region of Anoia was incorporated into his counties, but 100 years later it was still not a safe territory. The border between Christians and Saracens was weak and constantly crossed by swords, which particularly affected the settlers.
In the first half of the 11th century, Guifré's heirs attempted to retain the territory by encouraging afforestation, building fortifications and launching offensives whenever possible. However, in the mid-11th century the situation changed: the increase in the power of the counts and the fragmentation of the Caliphate of Córdoba into taifas did not lead to an advance of the frontier, but to its stagnation. The counts preferred to collect taxes in the taifas and expand towards Occitania.
In the 12th century, the Catalan counties were already strong and decided to push the southern border. During these 150 years, great figures – nobles, bishops, warriors and diplomats – left their mark on the Anoia, taking part in memorable battles.
Route 2: In the shadow of King James I (From internal struggles to the conquest of new territories)
The 13th century was a key one for the castles of Anoia and their inhabitants: the region went from being a frontier land to becoming the cradle of conquerors of the kingdoms subdued by James I. The lower nobility of Anoia, who acted as castlana (guardian) of the castles without being owners, saw in the expansion an opportunity for enrichment and military glory. Meanwhile, James I, initially questioned by the nobles (including those from Anoia), established himself as the central figure of these times thanks to his leadership in the conquest.
The present-day Anoia became a chessboard where four powers competed: the Claramunt family dominated the centre and south of the region; the Cardona family extended their control over Òdena and Castellolí; the king owned lands in Piera and Cabrera; and the Church protected its interests in Igualada and the southern tip of Piera. In this game of power there was no shortage of pacts, betrayals, crimes and daring deeds.
The struggle for control of Anoia marked the future of the country. How did Jaume I overcome the noble revolts? How did he protect the abbot of Sant Cugat Igualada from the neighbouring lords? If you want to discover the answers, delve into the constellation of intertwined stories of 13th century Anoia.
Route 3: In the service of Peter the Ceremonious (14th century)
The 13th century had seen the rise of Catalan power in the Mediterranean: James I had incorporated Majorca and Valencia, his son Peter II added Sicily, and his grandson James II added Sardinia. However, the division of the kingdoms between the monarchs' sons led to internal conflicts.
In the 14th century, Peter III the Ceremonious devoted his more than 50 years of reign to reuniting all of the family's possessions. At his death, he was King of Aragon, Majorca, Valencia, Sardinia and Corsica, Count of Barcelona, Roussillon and Cerdagne, and Duke of Athens and Neopatria. To achieve this, he had to confront Castile and Genoa.
The Anoia region remained outside the battlefields, which benefited the civilian population but worried the military nobility. The income from the castles was not sufficient, and the nobles needed the profits from the war. For this reason, many of them enlisted in the service of the Crown, occupying public offices in the Principality or in the new possessions. Thus, in the 14th century, the Anoian nobles were spread across Majorca, Sardinia and Sicily.
But is it really true that their power struggles did not reach Anoia?
