“Guaita” Towers and Castles in the Maresme Coast

The “Guaita” Towers are architectural constructions having military character, the main objective was to provide a high and safe place to make observations.

Burriac Castle in Cabrera de Mar

They were built in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and even the remaining Roman ruins were used. We have more than 50 towers around the Maresme region and many have been restored.

Can Valls Tower in Sant Vicenç de Montalt

In this coastal area the towers were built to monitor the attacks of the pirates and the corsairs of the sixteenth century. Currenlty most of them are private properties and can not be traspassed. To warn of danger, smoke, fire, light or sound signals were used. There were so many on the Maresme Coast that the area was known as a tower coast.

Vilassar de Dalt Castle renovatedand declared a cultural asset. Visiting periods have been established during the year.

Nowadays,  those that are still in use are part of the typical catalan countryhouses or other types of buildings that have nothing to do with their old use. Many others remain only ruins or are in poor condition. We also have castles, such as the popular Burriac Castle located in Cabrera de Mar and being owned by this town since 1931, when visiting it you can see what remains of  the chapel of Sant Vicenç.

➡More info in Welcome to Maresme