CASTLES SELVA

Castell de Vilobí d'Onyar is a 12th-century fortified residence in the municipality of Vilobí d'Onyar, positioned in the scenic Onyar river valley. The castle received a Neo-Gothic transformation during the 19th century with the addition of towers and façade elements on its eastern side, though its foundational structure maintains a square floor plan with corner towers built from rough volcanic stone quarried from nearby la Crosa. Documented from 1166, the castle was transferred to the Order of the Temple in 1241 before becoming a protected cultural heritage site. Located at the northern edge of town, it represents both a symbol of medieval settlement origins and an example of how traditional fortifications were aesthetically modernized while maintaining defensive architectural principles.

Castell de Malavella, situated near Caldes de Malavella in the Selva comarca, dates to at least the 11th century when documented as 'Castro Vetulo,' though it may rest upon older Iberian or Roman foundations. Positioned atop a basaltic promontory approximately three kilometers from the urban center, the castle showcases construction from distinctive hexagonal volcanic stone blocks characteristic of the region's geology. Built by the Barony of Llagostera from 1375 onwards, only fragmentary walls with square corner towers survive, though archaeological excavations revealed a rectangular chapel structure within the complex. The castle exemplifies how medieval Catalan fortifications utilized local geological features and materials to create defensible positions across the Selva landscape.