Castell de Castellet

Situated on an impressive and commanding site at the northern end of the Parc de Foix, with superb views over the impressive Foix reservoir, the Castle of Castellet dominates the small (and rather well-​to-​do) settlement that has grown up around it.
The castle, heavily restored, is famous for its attractive grouping of square and round towers, and the adjacent (and separate) hillside chapel. Built in the 10^th century, it is first referred to in a document dated 977AD, although most of what you see today is the result of a series of mediaeval rebuilding, reflecting its major strategic importance during the period of the reconquest of Catalonia by the Christians from the Moors, when it was owned by the Counts of Barcelona, and through the mediaeval period (when it was a possession of the joint Catalonian and Aragonese Crown) until the 16^th century. Thereafter, the castle slowly fell into ruin.
Restoration began in the 1920s and 1930s, but what you see now is essentially the result of its acquisition in 1999 by the Albertis Foundation, itself sponsored by the large Spanish infrastructure group of the same name, which acquired the castle as a home for its research work on the environment and transport. The renovation has produced a thoroughly modern corporate presentation inside while respecting the fabric of the original castle. It’s not an approach normally adopted in the UK, but it at least ensures a safe future for the building. The most notable features are its oval 10^th century tower and walls from the 15^th century.
The castle itself is only open for guided visits on rather limited hours around lunchtime at week-​ends. Inside, there is a small museum of the site’s history. There’s a small car park next to the castle, with a rather larger car park at the foot of the hill. Slightly closer access can be had by parking close to the village’s classy restaurant, although this is reserved for patrons when the restaurant is open.
Alternatively, the castle lies on a number of long distance footpaths between Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Vilafranca del Penedès.