CastellvÃÂ Castle, also known as the Old Castle of Rosanes (in Catalan: Castell Vell de Rosanes), is a castle located in CastellvÃÂ de Rosanes in the Baix Llobregat comarca of Catalonia, Spain.
The earliest documented reference to the castle dates to 963, when it was recorded as Castrum vetula (Old Castle). A document from the Sant Cugat Monastery confirms land ownership and names Gilelmus as the castleâÂÂs lord. At that time, the castles and lands of Castellvàde Rosanes and Castellvàde la Marca belonged to the same family, known as Castellvàor Castellvell, which held significant influence in the comital court and the city of Barcelona.
The name Rosanes derives from the original surname Rodanes, also an early name for the nearby Eramprunyá Castle. The name Castellvell evolved into CastellvÃÂ, a toponym reflected in both Castellvàde Rosanes and Castellvàde la Marca. The designation âÂÂOldâ (vetula) has several theories: it may distinguish the castle from the later-built Rosanes Castle (or Pairet Castle) nearby, refer to Roman foundations beneath the site, or indicate rebuilding after the castleâÂÂs destruction by Almanzor in 985. Today, it is also known as Santiago Castle.
Despite its historical significance and archaeological value, CastellvÃÂ Castle is undergoing severe degradation.
The CastellvÃÂ barony once encompassed the modern municipalities of Abrera, Castellbisbal, CastellvÃÂ de Rosanes, Martorell, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Sant Esteve Sesrovires, and Olesa de Montserrat (by 1076). Its origins are tied to the fortification of this region, particularly intense in the late 9th century and early 10th century. During this period, castles such as Masquefa, Gelida, and Subirats emerged in historical records, reflecting a reorganization of the territory that laid the groundwork for early medieval administration and the later process of feudalization.
Situated at an altitude of 369 meters (1,211 feet), CastellvàCastle occupies a strategic position overlooking the corridor of the Penedès depression and controlling passage along the Llobregat River toward Barcelona. Its vantage point offers clear views of other castles in the Penedès region, with the smaller Pairet and Rocafort castles, built later, located nearby.
The Santiago Chapel, located in the castleâÂÂs basement, is a simple structure with a rectangular nave and a semicircular apse. The apse exterior features Lombard-style blind arches, and the chapel has a lateral entrance with a semicircular arch. A doorway near the naveâÂÂs foot, likely added in the 17th or 18th century, is more recent. The chapel includes two windows on the southern side and one in the apseâÂÂs center. Currently abandoned, it serves only as a storage space.