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Round Tower of Sant Joan de les Abadesses

Sant Joan de les Abadesses, Ripollès, Girona

1 Villages · 6 Monuments · 2 Historical milestones

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Round Tower of Sant Joan de les Abadesses

Monument · Sant Joan de les Abadesses, Ripollès, Girona

The Torre Rodona (Round Tower) was part of the defensive system that surrounded the monastery and the town of Sant Joan de les Abadesses during the late Middle Ages, of which several stretches of wall still survive around the old town centre. It is a tower with a completely circular plan, built in rubble masonry and roofed with Arab tile, though it retains only a vague trace of its original form after refurbishment works carried out between 1964 and 1966. The strengthening of the walls, fitted with 24 towers and drawbridges at two of their three gates, was promoted by abbot Ramon de la Bisbal between 1230 and 1248 to withstand attacks from rival nobles; in 1697 the town was besieged by the troops of the Duke of Noailles, who after taking it tore down the wall.

Photo: Joan301009 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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