Prenafeta: Castle History and Old Settlement

Prenafeta brings together castle history and religious architecture with the old settlement of Prenafeta Vell and the Cistercian Route GR175.

Location and Views

Prenafeta lies east of Montblanc at around 470 metres above sea level, at the foot of the western slope of Tossal Gros. The summit reaches 867 metres and is the highest point of the Serra Carbonària; the two elevations therefore distinguish the town from the mountain. From Tossal Gros, there are views over the plain of the Francolí River. Beyond the Serra de Prades and west of Montblanc lie the forests of Poblet.

Castle and Conca de Barberà

Prenafeta Castle occupied a strategic position: from there, access to the Conca de Barberà through the Prenafeta Pass could be controlled. The remains are known as Castell dels Moros or Torre dels Moros and lie at an elevation of around 750 metres. The castle site offers exceptional panoramic views over the Conca de Barberà. Castell de Prenafeta is classified as a Bé Cultural d’Interès Nacional (BCIN), a Cultural Asset of National Interest. The two names refer to the remains; BCIN, by contrast, denotes the classification of Castell de Prenafeta.

Prenafeta Vell and the Relocation

Old Prenafeta was abandoned at the end of the 18th century; its residents moved to the present-day site, which was more accessible at the time. The former settlement is known as Prenafeta Vell and is also called Vilafreda in some sources. In Prenafeta Vell, the route of the main street is still discernible; the ruins of the old church of Sant Salvador also remain there. Together, the street layout and the relocation help distinguish Prenafeta Vell from the present-day site: the former points to the old settlement, while the latter refers to its subsequent relocation.

Ermita de Santa Anna and Religious Architecture

The Ermita de Santa Anna de Montornès is located in the area of Prenafeta and was probably the centre of the former settlement of Montornès, which has since disappeared. It became a place of worship and gathering for several neighbouring settlements, including Prenafeta. The Catalan Gothic building has a single-nave interior: a wooden structure spans the main nave over stone diaphragm arches. Here, “single-nave” means that the interior has one main nave.

The Present-Day Parish Church

In present-day Prenafeta stands the Baroque parish church of Sant Salvador. It should be distinguished from the ruins of the old church of the same name in Prenafeta Vell. The religious buildings therefore differ clearly in architectural style: the chapel is Catalan Gothic and single-nave, while the present-day parish church is Baroque.

The Cistercian Route GR175

The Cistercian Route GR175 passes through Prenafeta and can be travelled on foot or by mountain bike (BTT). Prenafeta has a stamp point for travellers on the GR175. The mode of travel and the stamp point answer different trip-planning questions: the former concerns getting around on the GR175, while the latter relates to the route’s connection with Prenafeta.

For the broader travel overview: Montblanc.