The Castell de Castelldefels is much more than a castle, it is a recreational and cultural complex that offers different options: walk freely through the gardens, visit Piratia and the castle itself and enjoy the many activities that are organized throughout the year.
Castelldefels Castle, located on the coastal strip between the Garraf massif and Barcelona, is the protective and iconic symbol of the city. The church inside, dating from the 10th century, is the oldest part and is built on Iberian and Roman remains.
The Castle served for centuries for the territorial and defensive control of the city against the Arab invasions, and between the 16th and 17th centuries, against the attacks of Berber pirates.
In 1897 Manuel Girona, a Catalan banker and politician, bought and restored the Castle, which was in a state of ruins . During the civil war it was used as a military training center by the republican authorities and, later, the church became a barracks for international brigade members and a preventive prison for deserters and undisciplined people.
