la Manresana

La Manresana is a medieval watchtower — also referred to as a castle, the Castell/Torre de la Manresana — standing in the small settlement of the same name within the municipality of els Prats de Rei, in the Anoia county of Catalonia. The building is protected as an asset of national cultural interest, a status that reflects its place in the region's defensive history.

Why was a tower built at la Manresana?

In the 10th century the county of Osona was extending its territory into the lands of Anoia and Segarra. That frontier was guarded by a chain of watchtowers raised along the border, collectively known as the "manresanes." The tower at Prats de Rei is the best preserved of the group. The castle itself most likely already stood at that time, though the earliest surviving document naming it explicitly dates only to 1012. That gap between probable construction and first written record is typical of Catalan border towers of the period — the buildings tended to go up faster than the paperwork describing them.

Who controlled the castle over the centuries?

The first known holders were the Balsareny family, who held the stronghold in fief after it was seized — probably by Guifred de Balsareny or an ancestor of his. The feudal arrangement around the castle was layered in classic Catalan fashion: in 1351, a woman named Gueraua, widow of Eiximèn de Peguera, swore homage to Galceran de Pinós for the "castlania" — the right of custody and military command — of the castle of la Manresana and the town of Prats. Under this system, one lineage held formal ownership while another exercised actual armed control of the fortress, a division common across medieval Catalonia.

By the 16th century the property had passed to the Copons family; Carles de Copons styled himself lord of la Manresana. The family's standing kept growing afterward — in 1767, King Charles III granted Ramon Ignasi de Copons the title of Marquis of la Manresana, showing how much symbolic weight this modest stronghold still carried well into the early modern period, long after its original military purpose had faded.

What role did the tower play during the War of the Spanish Succession?

The tower regained real military relevance during the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century, becoming a scene of confrontation between pro-Habsburg forces and Bourbon troops. Thanks to its commanding position over the surrounding countryside, it served the allied command — headed by General Guido von Starhemberg — as a strategic observation point. That same dominant vantage over the landscape is what had made it useful as a watchtower for the previous seven centuries, combining lookout, defense, and symbolic authority in one structure.

What should visitors know before going?

La Manresana sits within the municipality of els Prats de Rei, at the heart of the Anoia county, along the routes linking inland Catalonia with the hills of Segarra. Its approximate coordinates are 41.696739, 1.552027. This is a destination for travelers interested in medieval defensive architecture and the border history of the Catalan counties, rather than a heavily developed tourist site — it remains an authentic relic of a thousand-year-old chain of frontier towers.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is la Manresana? It is a medieval watchtower, also known as a castle (Castell/Torre de la Manresana), located in the municipality of els Prats de Rei in the Anoia county.

When was the tower built? It likely already existed in the 10th century as part of the county of Osona's chain of border towers, but the first document confirming its existence dates to 1012.

Who ruled the castle throughout history? First the Balsareny family (holding it in fief), then lineages tied to the castlania sworn to Galceran de Pinós in the 14th century, and from the 16th century onward the Copons family, who received the title of Marquis of la Manresana in 1767.

What role did the tower play in the War of the Spanish Succession? It served as a strategic observation post for the pro-Habsburg allied forces under General Guido von Starhemberg during clashes with the Bourbons in the early 18th century.