Castell de Mogoda

Castell de Mogoda is a fortified farmhouse dating from the 12th–13th centuries in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, in the Vallès Occidental region of Catalonia. The complex sits in the La Mogoda neighborhood, southeast of the town centre, between the Riera de Caldes stream, the road to Caldes, and the RENFE railway line linking Mollet and El Papiol.

What is the history behind the castle?

The building began as the seat of the lords of Mogoda, who held power over the surrounding land in the Middle Ages. In 1278 the estate passed from Jaume de Sant Martí to the Sant Vicenç family, lords of Cabanyes, who in 1343 secured the title of barons of Mogoda from King Peter the Ceremonious. The site did not escape conflict: in 1356, under Berenguer de Sant Vicenç, troops from Barcelona attacked and burned the stronghold, wary of such concentrated feudal power so close to the city.

A second major turning point came in 1434, when the entire estate — more than 300 hectares of land along with its feudal rights — was bought by the Carthusian monastery of Montalegre. The monks ran it as a working farm for centuries afterward. It was the 19th-century disamortisation of church property in Spain that finally moved the estate into private secular hands: first the Marquis of Comillas, and later his heir, the Count of Güell.

What will you see on site?

The present-day complex brings together buildings from several different periods. The oldest section is the fortified farmhouse itself, from the 12th–13th centuries, where Romanesque details are still visible. Attached to it is a 14th-century chapel, whose façade was rebuilt in 1739 with added Gothic touches. The cavalry stables date from 1730, and a two-storey residential building was raised in 1737 and later remodelled in 1859.

Right beside the castle stands a cluster of workers' houses built in the late 19th century for the estate's farm labourers. Arranged in rows that form an L-shape, they are still home to around 200 people today — making this a living, inhabited corner rather than a monument seen only from behind a fence.

How do you get to Castell de Mogoda?

The castle is located at Carrer de Mogoda 24–25, 08130 Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, in the province of Barcelona.

By car, the most direct route is via the C-17 road (exit at Mollet del Vallès – Santa Perpètua de Mogoda) and then the C-59, or via the C-33 motorway (exit 1), also connecting to the C-59 through Mollet del Vallès.

By public transport, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda is served by two Exprés.cat bus lines: e9 (Barcelona–Caldes), which stops near the Can Bernades Subirà industrial estate, and e10 (Barcelona–Sentmenat), with five stops through the town centre. Two Rodalies train stations also serve the town — La Florida (line R3) and Granja Soldevila (line R8).

When is the best time to visit?

Because the settlement around the castle is a quiet, still-inhabited residential area, it's best visited during the day, ideally in spring or autumn when temperatures in Vallès Occidental are milder than in high summer. A visit pairs well with a short walk along the Riera de Caldes stream nearby.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Castell de Mogoda? The complex now functions as a residential area — around 200 people live in the former farm workers' houses — so visits are largely limited to viewing the buildings from outside.

How old is the castle? Its oldest part, the fortified farmhouse, dates from the 12th–13th centuries. Other elements, such as the chapel and residential building, were added and remodelled over the following centuries, right up to the 19th century.

Who owned the castle over the centuries? Ownership passed from the lords of Mogoda to the Sant Vicenç family (barons of Mogoda from 1343), then to the Carthusian monastery of Montalegre from 1434, and finally, after 19th-century disamortisation, to the Marquis of Comillas and his heir, the Count of Güell.

How can you get there without a car? The easiest options are Exprés.cat bus lines e9 or e10, or a Rodalies train to La Florida (R3) or Granja Soldevila (R8) station, followed by a short walk or local transport into the La Mogoda neighbourhood.