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Capdepera Castle today

Spain · Restored

Capdepera Castle

Castillo de Capdepera

Capdepera Castle crowns a wooded hill above the town of Capdepera on the eastern coast of Mallorca, Spain. Built around 1300, the site is defined by a continuous crenellated curtain wall, a cylindrical keep and a small chapel with a twin bell-gable, enclosing a compact inner bailey.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1300

Its prime

1300

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1300

What Capdepera Castle looked like in its prime.

A long, continuous pale limestone curtain wall with regular square crenellations runs along the ridge of a wooded hill, linking a freestanding cylindrical keep and a small rectangular chapel whose gable end has two arched bell-openings. The wall steps with the hill, enclosing a compact inner bailey with a few roofed buildings and palm trees. The masonry is roughly dressed local stone in warm beige tones; rooflines inside the walls are low and tiled; the defenses are complete and intact at their prime.

Its story

The story of Capdepera Castle.

Construction of the Castle of Capdepera began in 1310, and in the fourteenth century it was rebuilt on the remains of a Muslim village. It is one of the largest castles on Mallorca, crowning a wooded hill above the town of Capdepera on the island's eastern coast.

The fortress is defined by a continuous crenellated curtain wall enclosing a compact inner bailey, with a cylindrical keep and a small chapel crowned by a twin bell-gable. The walled circuit survives restored today.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1300.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Capdepera Castle, including 1 interior: inner bailey with buildings and planted areas. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the town belowCurtain wall walkway and crenellationsCylindrical keep (tower), base and profileChapel gable with twin bell openingsGatehouse and east tower entranceInner bailey with buildings and planted areas

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1300, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Questions about Capdepera Castle

What is the history of Capdepera Castle?

Capdepera Castle began as a fortified settlement in the fourteenth century, built to repopulate eastern Mallorca and control maritime communications through the Menorca Channel. It was rebuilt on the remains of a Muslim village. Menorca’s surrender was arranged there through James I of Aragon’s bonfire deception, and the castle was abandoned in 1854 before becoming municipal property in 1983.

What is inside Capdepera Castle?

Inside Capdepera Castle are a compact inner bailey, buildings and planted areas, as well as a chapel or church. The original fortified settlement contained narrow streets and small, simply built houses adapted to the hillside. The chapel is at the highest point of the rising site and has a view over the surrounding area.

Why was Capdepera Castle built, and what was it used for?

Capdepera Castle was built to repopulate the eastern part of Mallorca and to control communications and maritime traffic through the Menorca Channel. Its position also allowed surveillance of much of north-eastern Mallorca and part of Menorca’s north-eastern coast. Later, it served as a military stronghold and a settlement before being abandoned in 1854.

Where is Capdepera Castle?

Capdepera Castle is in Capdepera, on the island of Mallorca. It stands on the summit of Puig de Capdepera, above the town and about 1.9 kilometres from Mallorca’s eastern coast. Its elevated position overlooks much of the north-east of Mallorca and part of Menorca’s north-east coast.

When was Capdepera Castle built?

Capdepera Castle belongs to the fourteenth century. The supplied dates place its first construction around 1300 or beginning in 1310, followed by rebuilding on the remains of a Muslim village during that century. The site therefore developed in phases rather than being completed in a single documented year.

What did Capdepera Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Capdepera Castle had a long, continuous pale limestone curtain wall following the ridge of a wooded hill. Regular square crenellations linked a freestanding cylindrical keep with a small rectangular chapel whose gable had two arched bell-openings. The warm beige stone walls enclosed a compact inner bailey with low tiled roofs and palm trees.

Is Capdepera Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Capdepera Castle is still standing and has been restored. Its continuous walled circuit, cylindrical keep, chapel, gatehouse and towers survive, enclosing the inner bailey. The restored fortress is described as complete and intact at its prime, rather than as a ruin.

Can you visit Capdepera Castle?

Capdepera Castle is open for public viewing throughout the year. It is a restored monument rather than a private residence or an unmanaged ruin. Its preservation and conservation are supported by income generated by the monument.

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