The castle of Gardeny

In the second half of the 12th century, the Order of the Knights Templar built a monastery complex on the strategic plateau of Gardeny.

The hillock had already been used before our period as a base for military operations and had been visited by brilliant strategists, such as Julius Caesar himself, 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 former medieval complex was extended and turned into a new military fort, whose design corresponded to the new defensive needs involved in the introduction of the artillery: walls flanked by bastions and surrounded by vast spaces, moats and retaining walls.

The current image of this monumental complex corresponds to the remains of what was an impressive fortress.

The Castle of Gardeny in Lleida, together with those of Miravet, Monzón, Peñíscola and to the town of Tortosa, is a part of the Domus Templi Templar route.

This journey through the time brings you to discover an important part of the Templar heritage and legacy of the former Crown of Aragon.