Clan Rising
Requesens Castle today

Spain · Restored

Requesens Castle

Castillo de Requesens

Requesens Castle is a hilltop fortress in Catalonia overlooking the southern valleys of Mount Neulós and the Albera range. Largely rebuilt as a neo‑medieval summer residence between 1893 and 1899, the ensemble preserves multiple enclosures, towers, battlements and a chapel while retaining much granite masonry from the mountain. The site is visitable though some upper areas have restricted access for safety reasons.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Play Castle Siege ↓

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1899

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1899

What Requesens Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a wooded hill, the castle reads as a layered fortress of rough local granite with three enclosed baileys stepped up the slope. Long crenellated curtain walls link square and round towers, including a taller square keep-like tower rising above the rest. A lower cluster of service buildings and a small pitched-roof chapel sit against the slope; portals, visible machicolations and battlemented walkways define the roofline. The rebuilt exterior shows exposed grey granite and formal defensive silhouettes.

Its story

The story of Requesens Castle.

Requesens is first recorded in a grievance memorial from Count Ponç I of Empúries to his cousin, Count Gausfred II of Roussillon, around 1040–1071, controlling the passage into Spain below Mount Neulós. The lordship was confirmed to the Counts of Roussillon in a 1075 agreement between the counts, and control of the castle reaffirmed in further agreements of 1085 and 1121, held for them by a "castlà" who in the early 12th century was drawn from the count's own family.

The castle sat at the heart of the 12th-century feuds binding the Rocabertí viscounts of Peralada to the Counts of Roussillon against Empúries, the "war of Requesens" began with its capture by Count Ponç II of Empúries. After the Count of Barcelona seized Roussillon in 1172, the new lord, King Alfonso II, renounced his rights to Requesens in favour of the Count of Empúries, securing him full control; men surnamed Requesens then served as castellans or lords of the castle into the 13th century.

Between 1893 and 1899 the medieval fortress was largely rebuilt as a neo-medieval summer residence. The ensemble preserves multiple enclosures, towers, battlements and a chapel, retaining much granite masonry from the mountain itself, and the site can be visited today, though some upper areas are closed off for safety.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1899.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Requesens Castle, including 3 interiors: chapel of the virgin of providence (interior), service buildings: kitchens and stables (interior/exterior), great hall in the noble (upper) enclosure. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Southern approach (exterior view)Large courtyard of the first (lower) enclosureChapel of the Virgin of Providence (interior)Fortified door of the second enclosure (exterior)Service buildings: kitchens and stables (interior/exterior)Great Hall in the noble (upper) enclosureRound watchtower (highest point)Upper enclosure, medieval door and surviving bastionBattlemented walkway on the curtain wall

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Requesens Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1899, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →

Castle Siege

Play Castle Siege at Requesens Castle.

A strategy game played on Requesens Castle’s real ground plan: the same surveyed walls shown in the archive below. Post your finite garrison on the battlements between assaults, then hold out as rams, siege towers, trebuchets and sappers arrive in ever-worse waves.

Sign in free to see the garrison muster. One castle costs 150 Clan Coins and is yours forever.

Sign in to take command →

See every castle’s leaderboard →

Whose castle

Clans who held Requesens Castle.

The families that held Requesens Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Roussillon

    The Counts of Roussillon held the lordship of Requesens, confirmed by agreements of 1075, 1085 and 1121, until the county was seized by Barcelona in 1172.

  • Empúries

    The Counts of Empúries secured full control after 1172, when Alfonso II renounced his rights to Requesens in their favour.

  • Requesens

    Men of the Requesens surname served as castellans or lords of the castle for the Count of Empúries in the late 12th and 13th centuries.

From the archive

Requesens Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

[Casament al Castell de Requesens], Requesens Castle

[Casament al Castell de Requesens]

· Ajuntament de Girona (via Europeana)

Public domain

[Casament al Castell de Requesens], Requesens Castle

[Casament al Castell de Requesens]

· Ajuntament de Girona (via Europeana)

Public domain

Requesens. Castle Detail. Castle Detalle, Requesens Castle

Requesens. Castle Detail. Castle Detalle

· Ajuntament de Girona (via Europeana)

Public domain

Questions about Requesens Castle

What is the history of Requesens Castle?

Requesens Castle began as a frontier fortress documented in the 11th century, controlling the passage into Spain below Mount Neulós. The Counts of Roussillon held its lordship before Count Ponç II of Empúries captured it during the 12th-century feuds. French forces besieged it in 1285 without taking it, while a later French army occupied and looted it in 1288. It was largely rebuilt as a neo-medieval summer residence between 1893 and 1899.

What is inside Requesens Castle?

Inside Requesens Castle are the Chapel of the Virgin of Providence, service buildings with kitchens and stables, and rooms in the noble or upper enclosure. The Great Hall has a stone fireplace and windows with theatrical shutters, although it is currently closed. The chapel incorporates Romanesque and French elements, while the upper enclosure retains part of flooring decorated with the heraldic rock of the Rocabertí.

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

Requesens Castle was built to control the passage into Spain below Mount Neulós. Its medieval role was therefore defensive and territorial. Between 1893 and 1899, the fortress was largely rebuilt as a neo-medieval summer residence by its owners, the Counts of Peralada residing in the area, changing its use from a frontier stronghold to a private residence.

Does anyone live in Requesens Castle now?

No one lives in Requesens Castle now. The castle has not returned to being inhabited, and its 19th-century interior is completely dismantled. Visits are permitted, although part of the upper enclosure has been closed for safety reasons after recent vandalism.

Where is Requesens Castle?

Requesens Castle is in La Jonquera, on a hill overlooking the southern valleys of Mount Neulós in Catalonia. It stands approximately 7 km east of the Requesens neighbourhood, in the former village area of Requesens. The fortress overlooks the Albera range and controls the passage into Spain.

When was Requesens Castle built?

Requesens Castle was first documented in the 11th century, around 1040–1071, and its medieval construction date is not recorded as a single year. The surviving medieval remains include parts dating from the 12th to 14th centuries. Most of the present fortress was rebuilt between 1893 and 1899 as a neo-medieval summer residence.

Was Requesens Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Requesens Castle was besieged by French forces in the summer of 1285, but the attackers did not capture it. In 1288, a French army serving James II of Mallorca briefly occupied and looted the castle during its invasion of the Empordà. These were separate assaults, with the earlier siege ending in the castle’s defence and the later attack in temporary occupation.

Which family or clan held Requesens Castle?

The Counts of Roussillon held the lordship of Requesens until the county was seized by Barcelona in 1172. The Counts of Empúries then secured full control after Alfonso II renounced his rights in their favour. Men of the Requesens surname served as castellans or lords of the castle for the Count of Empúries in the late 12th and 13th centuries.

What did Requesens Castle look like in its prime?

Requesens Castle looked like a layered historicist fortress of rough local granite, with three enclosed baileys stepped up a wooded hill. Long crenellated curtain walls linked square and round towers, including a taller square keep-like tower. Battlements, machicolations, fortified portals, a round watchtower and a small pitched-roof chapel shaped its defensive silhouette.

Is Requesens Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Requesens Castle is still standing and restored rather than being a ruin. The medieval fortress was largely rebuilt between 1893 and 1899, using the same layout and granite stone from the mountain. Only a few medieval elements clearly remain, including bastion walls, the northern square tower and part of the upper enclosure door, while some upper areas are restricted for safety.

Who built Requesens Castle?

Alexandre Comalat directed the rebuilding of Requesens Castle between 1893 and 1899. The project was commissioned by its owners, Tomàs de Rocabertí-Boixadors Dameto and Verí and his sister Joana-Adelaida, the last Counts of Peralada residing in the area. Comalat restored the medieval remains as a neo-medieval summer residence using the same layout and granite stone.

Can you visit Requesens Castle?

Requesens Castle can be visited, although some upper areas are closed for safety reasons. The castle remains uninhabited, and access to part of the upper enclosure has been restricted after recent vandalism. The Great Hall and the round watchtower are also described as closed or inaccessible.

More castles of Spain

Salvatierra Castle, SpainSalvatierra CastleCastillo de Alarcón, SpainCastillo de AlarcónCalatrava la Nueva, SpainCalatrava la Nueva
All castles of Spain · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.