Montclús Castle

Montclús Castle rises above the Palautordera plain at the foot of the Montseny range, within the municipality of Sant Esteve de Palautordera in Catalonia. It's one of the best-preserved medieval strongholds of the Vallès Oriental, tucked away on a hilltop wrapped in dense woodland.

Where does the name come from, and what's its history?

The castle's origins likely go back to the 11th century, though the first written record dates only from the 13th century. It was built by Guillem de Sesagudes i Montseny, who took the surname Montclús after settling at the site — borrowing the name from the castle itself. Between 1230 and 1263 the family consolidated its standing: Guillemó, son of Guillem Umbert de Montseny, also adopted the Montclús name and married Gueralda de Cabrera, daughter of Viscount Guerau V. That marriage linked the local lineage to one of Catalonia's more prominent feudal houses, a connection still visible in the scale of the castle's later expansion.

Locally the castle is also known as "Castell dels moros" (Castle of the Moors), a folk name rooted in old legends rather than in the actual history of its construction.

What will you see on site?

The castle is laid out in two parts: an upper fortified enclosure and a lower complex added later. The oldest elements date from the Romanesque period, but most of what visitors see today stems from building campaigns in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.

Its most recognizable feature is a massive corner tower known as "La Presó" (The Prison), which guarded the most exposed, northern stretch of the walls. The keep also survives, restored to a height of five to six metres — from up there you get the clearest sense of the fortifications' original scale. By the 15th century the castle was shedding its purely defensive role and being converted into a residence, evidenced by the large windows on its western façade, a feature absent from the earlier fortified sections.

How do you get to Montclús Castle?

The castle sits on a hill covered in thick forest, within the municipality of Sant Esteve de Palautordera, in the Vallès Oriental region. It's reachable on foot only, along paths across uneven terrain — sturdy hiking shoes and water are worth packing, especially in summer, when the forest canopy provides the only real shelter from the heat.

When is the best time to visit?

Given the wooded surroundings and the steep approach, spring and autumn make for the most pleasant visits, with milder temperatures and the Montseny forest at its most scenic. Summer heat can make the climb tough, while in winter it's worth checking conditions beforehand, since the higher reaches of Montseny can turn damp and slippery.

A local milestone: the castle passes to the town

For generations, the roughly 15,000-square-metre plot on which the castle stands belonged to the Adroer family, owners since the 19th century. The property was recently donated to the municipality of Sant Esteve de Palautordera, turning this historic monument into public property and opening it up to residents and visitors exploring the Montseny region.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Montclús Castle? Its origins trace back to the 11th century, though the earliest written mentions come from the 13th century, when the castle rose in importance under the Montclús lineage.

Can you drive up to the castle? No — it stands atop a forested hill reachable only by footpaths, with no road access.

Why is it called "Castell dels moros"? That's a folk nickname stemming from local legends, not from any historical fact about who actually built the castle.

Is the castle open to visitors today? Yes. Since passing into the ownership of the Sant Esteve de Palautordera municipality, the grounds are public property and open for walking visits.