Albinyana

History

In the eleventh century, Viscount Guitard strategically built his castle in Albinyana, near the border and prone to Saracen attacks. His son Adalbert, who died during the Reconquista, bequeathed the place to the Monastery of Sant Cugat. In 1040, the monastery's abbot ceded the lands to Bernat Otger on the condition that he would rebuild the castle and take care of its defence. Due to its vulnerable location, the castle remained uninhabited for a long time. It belonged to the monks of Sant Cugat until the end of the lordships. There are no remains of the castle today, and the acknowledged location is the same place that forms the centre of the village today. Two other fortifications also played a significant role in the local history. One is the old Esquena Roja castle, mentioned in documents from 1173. Shortly after that, it became a farmhouse. The other fortification is the Tomoví castle, although documents found seem to suggest that it was more of a fortified mansion, a structure with defensive features but not as extensive as a castle, than a castle itself.