Castell de Sant Ferran - Figueres

The site is easily accessed by a good road near to the
Parc Bosc, in Figueres centre.

This photograph -Antonio De Lorenzo, Marina Ventayol

An imposing 18^th.C hilltop fortress ‘The Castell de Sant Ferran’, guards the city of Figueres below. It was constructed in the form of an irregular octagon on a site of almost 32 hectares. The walls of the fort measure 3km in length, the defenses include an inner wall, bastions and drawbridges over the moats. This was the largest military fort built during the 18^th.C and was designed to resist the frequent invasions of the French army from the north. The Garrison was able to hold 6,000 personnel and 500 horses and provided for them with an underground cistern holding 40,000 litres of water. Today’s visitors tour the underground caverns by boat and the grounds by jeep.  

Perhaps the most famous resident of the city of Figueres, a certain Salvador Dalí performed his military service here in 1927. The international brigade was also quartered here during their contribution the Spanish civil war (1936 – 1939).

It was during the civil war that artworks from El Prado – Madrid were stored within the garrison for safe keeping.

Another infamous resident of Castell de Sant Ferran was Antonio Tejero, the Guardia Civil officer and the leader of the failed coup d’etat of 23rd February 1981, was imprisoned in the castle for many years. Somewhat ungratefully he regarded Figueres as ‘el quinto coño’, which is Spanish slang for Hicksville, or the back of beyond.