An architectural gem tied to the history of Valderrobres and the Matarraña, this castle-palace has been restored to reveal its splendour and host cultural events.
The history of Valderrobres is closely tied to the evolution of its imposing castle and the adjacent church. This fortress, which rises majestically above the village, has been both witness and protagonist of centuries of transformation at the heart of the Matarraña.
In 1175, following the reconquest of the territories of Peña Aznar Lagaya, King Alfonso II of Aragon made an important donation: Valderrobres passed into the hands of the Bishop of Zaragoza, Pedro Torroja. It was at this point that the strategic need to build a castle in the region was first considered. In 1307, the Bishop of Zaragoza consolidated his status as feudal lord of this territory, marking the beginning of an ambitious construction project.
Under the rule of Archbishop Pedro López de Luna, the construction of the magnificent church and the original castle was set in motion. From 1390, Archbishop García Fernández de Heredia took up the works with renewed vigour, transforming the initial fortress into a splendid residential palace. However, his unexpected death in 1411 left both buildings unfinished. The hasty completion of the works would finally take place during the archbishopric of Dalmacio de Mur y Cervellón.
The 16th century brought renewed interest in Valderrobres. Archbishop Hernando de Aragón promoted significant additions to both the castle and the church, including the construction of a wall enclosing the courtyard, the creation of the main-floor entrance hall of the castle, the installation of a new high altarpiece in the church and the production of a silver processional cross. After this period, however, episcopal interest in the castle declined sharply. The disentailments of the 19th century resulted in the castle passing into state ownership and, consequently, into abandonment. The church also suffered serious deterioration, culminating in the collapse of its final section in 1877.
In the 1980s, the Castle of Valderrobres began a process of partial restoration, gradually becoming a regular venue for cultural events. A crucial milestone was the reconstruction of the ruined section of the church in 2008. Finally, in 2021, the full restoration of the entire castle was completed, with the basement of the courtyard also fitted out as a valuable exhibition space, allowing visitors to immerse themselves even further in its rich history.
Explore the architectural beauty and details of this impressive Gothic fortress, from its outer walls to its restored courtyards, capturing its historic essence and its majestic integration into the landscape of Valderrobres.
In the 16th century, Archbishop Hernando de Aragón showed renewed interest in Valderrobres and made various additions to the castle and the church, including a wall enclosing the courtyard, the main-floor entrance hall of the castle, the high altarpiece of the church and the silver processional cross. After that period, however, the archbishops lost interest in the castle and the church. With the disentailments that began in the 19th century, the castle passed into state ownership, which led to its abandonment. The church also suffered problems and the final section collapsed in 1877. In the 1980s, the castle was partially restored and became a regular venue for cultural events. In 2008, the ruined section of the church was reconstructed and, in 2021, the full restoration of the entire castle was completed and the basement of the courtyard was fitted out as an exhibition space.
Matarraña · Tourism
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