Pella i Forgas’s Defensive Tower – Begur, Spain
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 41° 57.279 E 003° 12.381
31T E 517101 N 4644761
This tower is one of a number in Begur that were built to defend the town from pirates.
Waymark Code: WMCRNW
Location: Cataluña, Spain
Date Posted: 10/08/2011
Views: 10
Although originally a fishing village, the town of Begur is actually 200 metres up a hill side inland. This part of the coast of Spain was subject to attack from Moorish pirates and so the inhabitants moved the village high up the hillside.
The pirates did not give up though and continued to attack the community. They even destroyed a castle on top of the hill above the village. In response to this some of the owners of the larger houses added defensive towers in the 16th and 17th centuries. The towers had entrances part way up the tower, with wooden steps. When the town was under attack people climbed up the wooden steps and then pulled them up behind them.
This particular one belongs to a private home owner and so you cannot visit inside it. At one time it was owned by Josep Pella i Forgas, a Begur politician, lawyer and historian.
There is a small historical plaque in Spanish, Catalan, English, French and German. If you visit this site look out for the mistake in the English translation.
Site Description: Defensive tower with a multi-lingual information sign
Date of Pirate Activity (Estimated): 16th & 17th Centuries
Reference Web-link or Book Title: http://www.fotoalquiler.com/c43/pueblo_ingles.htm
Site Admission (If needed): Admission inside tower is not allowed.
Hours Available (If needed): The tower is the square called Placa De Pella i Forgas and so can be seen anytime.
Additional Information (optional): If you're really keen, you can get up to the castle from here, but it's a fairly steep climb.
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