An official from Lleia, a city in Catalonia, Spain, showing the Gardeny Castle.
© Larent Sansen / © Jordi Clariana
In the second half of the 12th
century, the Order of the Knights Templar built a monastery
complex on the strategic plateau of Gardeny (El Segrià - Spain). This hill had
previously been used as a base for military operations and had been visited by
such brilliant strategists as Julius Caesar, who confronted Afranius and
Petreius, two supporters of Pompey, who had established themselves in Ilerda in
49 B.C. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the original medieval complex was
extended and turned into a new military fort. The new design corresponded to
contemporary defensive needs associated with developments in artillery and saw
the introduction of walls flanked by bastions and surrounded by vast spaces,
moats and retaining walls. The present form of this monumental complex
corresponds to the remains of what was once an impressive fortress. The
Castle of Gardeny in Lleida and the castles of Miravet, Monzón,
Peñíscola and Tortosa all form part of the Domus Templi,
Templar route. This offers a journey through time that takes
history-lovers back in time and enables them to discover important aspects of
Templar heritage and this legacy of the former Crown of Aragon. - in: http://www.lleidatur.com/Tourism/Visit/Gardeny-castle/260.aspx
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