Looking into the Past
The Castle of Montclar raises its walls up on the remainders of an antique Roman tower. On the façade of the fortress, an inscription points out that it was rebuilt on the year 1635. Nevertheless, the historians have documentation of it from the year 981. Therefore it is the most antique castle of the zone.
Restored for the last time on the year 1970 and declared Historical and Artistic Monument on 1979, the walls of the Castle of Montclar seem to remember, and try to announce, all the historical vicissitudes that happened in the region.The most antique part is the ground floor and the tower that was used for homage in the last construction, which now supports the current fortress. Thus, watching its stones (the so called "witness stones"), one can distinguish the different stages of the construction: from the floor up to 4 meters of height corresponds to the XIII century; the upper part corresponds to the XV century.
Its history is long. During many years in the middle age, the Castle had clearly a defensive function, of vital importance in those days. Two exterior walls (that nowadays are in the middle of the town) surrounded the fortress protecting the most vulnerable part. Later it became the residence of the feudal lords. In that moment the houses of the farmers, who work the lords' fields, were built in the surroundings or even inside the castle. Of course, during wars, the noble people had to allow the whole town to enter into the castle.The history proved, as it happens most to the times, that the Romans knew perfectly where to build a defensive tower. During the Spanish Civil War, the castle was occupied by a military detachment as strategic point of defense.
Historical anecdote: Only five families have been owners of the Castle of Montclar since the year 1200: The Cabreras, the Ribelles, the Ponts, the Despujols and since 1986 the Miguels. The Miguels' linage comes from the Baix Empordà (castles of Palau Sator, Palau Sacosta and Púbol).
