The Ruins of a Medieval Castle Outside Barcelona

Castillo Torre Salvana charliegardiner (Atlas Obscura User)

This once-grand castle is over 1,000 years old, but now sits dilapidated, abandoned, and open for people to explore.

Castillo Torre Salvana dates back to the 10th century. It can be found just outside of the city of Barcelona and is little-known by most people, even many locals who live in the city.

The fortress-like castle is located next to the historic Colonia Güell, a purpose-built village for the workers of a nearby textile mill. The castle was partially destroyed in the Catalan Civil War in 1224. It has sat abandoned for centuries.

These days the ruins serve as a place where you can explore and capture some great photos. Many of the walls inside the castle have been eroded over time, but there are still distinct hallways and rooms to discover.

The second floor is intact and offers a great view over the surrounding former factory village of Colonia Güell. The village’s church was designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi and, like Castillo Torre Salvana, is not very well known. The church can be seen from the castle’s second-floor windows, so you can experience two of Barcelona’s hidden gems at the same time.

Know Before You Go

The easiest way to visit Castillo Torre Salvana is by car since it is outside of the city. Once you arrive in the village of Colonia Guell, park the car in front of the Church (it's the first car parking area you see as you enter the village).If you are looking in the direction of the Church, Castillo Torre Salvana will be directly behind you. You should be able to see it, but if you can't, walk across the dirt road in the direction of Castillo Torre Salvana and it will come into view. From there everything should be easy to figure out.