Castell de Vilassar

Castell de Vilassar stands above the small town of Vilassar de Dalt in the Maresme region, roughly 30 km northeast of Barcelona. From the outside it reads as a single compact stone mass, but its story stretches back over a thousand years and passes through the hands of several of Catalonia's noble families.

Where did this castle come from?

The earliest traces at the site date to the 10th century, when the structure is believed to have consisted of little more than a cylindrical tower inside a fortified enclosure. By the following century the property belonged to the Sant Vicenç family, lords of Burriac and one of the region's more prominent feudal houses.

The turning point came in 1352, when Berengueró de Sant Vicenç died without heirs. The castle was then sold to Pere des Bosc, a merchant from Barcelona — a transaction typical of an era in which noble estates increasingly passed into the hands of the urban merchant elite. In the 15th century the property was absorbed into royal holdings, though the des Bosc family kept living there throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.

Later marriages carried the castle to the Oms family, then the Copons, and finally the Sarriera, marquesses of Barberà — who still own the property today.

What will you actually see there?

The building took on its present form largely during the 14th and 15th centuries, and it's this period that shaped most of what visitors can see now. From the 16th century onward, the castle gradually lost its military role and fell into decline.

Its most recognisable feature is the cylindrical tower of homage — the defensive tower that symbolised a feudal lord's authority — paired with a square tower standing beside the entrance gate. Look out for the Gothic windows added in the 15th century: their pointed-arch design sits in clear contrast with the fortress's otherwise austere, defensive character, and marks the shift from a purely military structure toward a residential one.

The castle underwent restoration in 1950, which preserved its overall form and key architectural details to the present day.

How do you get there, and when's the best time to visit?

Vilassar de Dalt sits at the heart of Maresme, a region known for its scattering of medieval castles and watchtowers along the coast and in the hills behind it. From Barcelona, the trip typically takes about half an hour by car, or by regional train to nearby coastal stations followed by local transport into the town centre.

Since 2017 the castle has operated as a private events venue — hosting weddings and celebrations — so access for visitors tends to happen around scheduled events or occasional open days rather than through regular tourist opening hours. It's worth checking current access arrangements before planning a visit, ideally through the local Maresme tourist information office.

Spring and early autumn are the best times to explore the surrounding area, when the temperatures suit walking the hills around the town and the views from near the castle over the valley and coastline are at their clearest.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the castle? Since 2017 it has functioned mainly as a private venue for weddings and events, so open visiting is limited — check current access conditions before you arrive.

How old is Castell de Vilassar? Its oldest elements date to the 10th century, though the building owes its present form to rebuilding work carried out in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Who owned the castle over the years? It passed through the Sant Vicenç family, then the des Bosc, and later — through marriage — to the Oms, Copons, and finally Sarriera families, marquesses of Barberà, who remain the owners today.

What's worth seeing on site? The cylindrical tower of homage, the square tower by the gate, and the 15th-century Gothic windows that mark the castle's shift from a military stronghold to a residence.