Description of the attraction
One of the symbols of Blanes, as well as the entire Costa Brava, is the ancient castle of San Juan, located on the top of a mountain between the beaches of Lloret and Fenals. The castle is one of the oldest buildings on the coast - it was erected on the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress by order of the Viscount Grau de Cabrera in the middle of the 13th century. The castle of San Juan, located at an altitude of 173 meters, provided reliable protection to the city from attacks by pirate ships and invasions of foreign invaders. In the 16th century, during the period of the highest frequency of pirate raids, it was decided to attach a Watchtower to one of the castle walls. Some time later, in the same 16th century, the castle was acquired by the Spanish military diplomat Francesco Montsad.
Over the long history of the castle's existence, many fragments of the building were destroyed, some of them managed to be restored and given their original appearance, while the Watchtower has remained practically intact since its construction. Today, San Juan Castle attracts tourists from all over the world. In addition to getting acquainted with this amazing structure, visitors have the opportunity to admire the magnificent views from here over the city and the Costa Brava. Surprisingly, on clear days, you can see the silhouette of Montjuic in Barcelona from here. There is also a museum on the territory of the castle, which displays exhibits that tell about the history and development of nearby settlements.
In 1949, San Juan Castle was designated a National Historic Landmark.
