Castell de Palol Sabaldòria

Castell de Palol Sabaldòria is a well-documented medieval stronghold in Vilafant, Alt Empordà, declared a cultural asset of national interest. Originally documented in 1020 through Count Bernat Tallaferro's testament, the fortress was formally established by 1167 when the Bishop of Girona granted it to the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll. The castle featured a rectangular plan with a distinctive circular tower within a fortified perimeter overlooking the Manol river. Archaeological excavations reveal an ancient settlement nucleus predating the castle, with evidence of pre-Romanesque churches, ninth and tenth-century dwellings, and pottery from the fourth and third centuries BC. Beside the ruins stands the medieval church of Sant Miquel and associated structures, creating a complex settlement that serves as an important window into the region's medieval social organization and defensive strategies.