Medieval Olèrdola Castle reconstructed in Alt Penedès region 

The Catalan Land Institute (Incasòl) has initiated a significant restoration project at Olèrdola Castle, aiming to revive the 10th-century skyline of the Alt Penedès region. This project seeks to reconstruct sections of the castle's walls, restoring its historical prominence on top of the summit. 

Site coordinator Núria Molist emphasized the project's importance, stating, "We will be able to explain much more clearly what medieval Olèrdola was like, the second most important city of its time." Due to the site's unique location, construction materials have been transported by helicopter to facilitate the restoration process. 

The restoration, expected to continue until the year's end, begins with an archaeological excavation at the castle site. This phase aims to uncover buried sections of the walls, long obscured by accumulated earth and debris since the castle's abandonment.  

Recovered stones from the excavation will be repurposed to rebuild the walls, with plans to consolidate and reinforce the highest remaining sections. Upon completion, some walls are projected to reach approximately three meters in height, corresponding to the castle's original ground floor.  

This reconstruction will not extend to a full restoration: "We don’t intend to invent a castle without clear evidence of how it originally looked." Additionally, conservation efforts will focus on the ancient Roman tower within the complex. 

Historical significance and community impact 

Restoring Olèrdola Castle holds profound cultural and historical significance. The castle played a crucial role during a period when Olèrdola was second only to Barcelona in regional importance. The city served as a strategic point on the border between Al-Andalus and Christian territories, with the Count of Barcelona governing and distributing lands from this location. 

The restoration project not only aims to preserve this rich history but also to enhance educational opportunities for visitors. By making the castle's structure more visible and accessible, the initiative seeks to provide deeper insights into the region's medieval past and its architectural heritage. 

The project entails an investment of €425,000, excluding VAT, funded through the European Union’s Next Generation recovery funds as part of Spain's Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. Incasòl is executing the restoration, commissioned by the Catalan Cultural Heritage Agency. 

Given the castle's elevated location, inaccessible to conventional vehicles, logistical challenges have been addressed by employing helicopter transport.

In a coordinated effort, a helicopter conducted approximately 30 trips between the site's parking area and the castle summit, delivering essential machinery and materials. A similar operation is planned upon the project's completion to remove equipment and finalize the restoration.