Castell-Cartoixa de Vallparadis / Carthusian Castle of Vallparadis

This is a small castle just a few minutes’ walk across a modern pedestrian suspension bridge from the Three Churches of Saint Peter, and opposite the Textile Museum.

Originally built in the 12th century, it was adapted for use as a small Carthusian Monastery in the 14th and 15th centuries, with the addition of a chapel and the erection of a two-storey cloister in the castle’s interior.

The castle was restored in the 1950s and is now used as a small museum, with exhibits covering the development of Terrassa through the ages. The collections cover the prehistoric and Roman periods, mediaeval periods and the 19th century industrial development of the town. The exhibits are only mildly diverting, but the cloister is pretty and worth a look and, in any case, entrance is free. It also houses occasional temporary exhibitions.

The ground floor has step free-access (although at the time of writing (November 2008) building works mean the path from the road is inaccessible), but the toilets are down some steps.