Besora Castle facts for kids
Besora Castle is an old castle found in a beautiful area called the Vall de Lord. It's located in the town of Santa Maria de Besora, in Catalonia, Spain. The castle sits high up on a rocky hill, about 1,092 meters (3,583 feet) above sea level. Long ago, you could only reach it by a special path from the north, which was well protected. Today, the castle is made up of three large buildings that have been turned into a country home, known as a masia.
Contents
History of Besora Castle
Early Mentions
Besora Castle is very old! It was first mentioned in history around the year 875. It was part of a gift from Wilfred the Hairy, who was a powerful count, to his daughter Emma when she joined a monastery.
A Border Watchtower
For a long time, Besora Castle stood on the edge of Christian lands, watching over the border with Muslim territories. It was like a lookout tower! Wilfred the Hairy set up other forts nearby to protect the area. This castle likely marked the northern border of the county near the city of Solsona.
What Remains Today
Today, you can still see parts of the castle walls. It's now a home, but it used to have an old church, Santa Maria de Besora, right next to it. A new church was built in 1759.
Important Battles
Besora Castle saw some action during different wars. In the 15th century, during a conflict called the War of the Remences, a leader named Francesc de Verntallat and his forces took over the castle several times.
Later, in 1838, the castle was badly damaged during the First Carlist War. It became a hiding place and a battleground for a group called the Carlists. A royalist leader named Buenaventura Carbó had to escape from the castle and the nearby church during this time.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Besora para niños
