Owning a medieval fortification is no longer just a matter for counts, kings or bishops. In the province of Teruel, anyone with a large savings account can now purchase the Pradas de San Agustín castle, a 13th century building that has just gone on sale for 200,000 euros. For more modest pockets, the fortified farmhouse of the Capellanía de Castellote, from the 14th century, is offered, which only costs 15,000 euros.
They are amounts “typical of balances”, as detailed by archaeologist Javier Ibáñez, an expert in the matter, to the local newspaper Heraldo de Aragón, which reported the news this Monday.
According to him, both buildings are classified as assets of cultural interest (BIC), so any intervention on them must have prior approval from the Provincial Cultural Heritage Commission to preserve their monumental value. As time and lack of maintenance have turned them into ruins or threaten to ruin them, he admits that the cost of their rehabilitation will far exceed that of their acquisition.
The Pradas castle, close to the border with the province of Castellón, is for sale on a real estate website. El Heraldo assures that the City Council does not give up its efforts to acquire it with the aim of guaranteeing its conservation and, if possible, restoring it. However, the City Council cannot reach the price proposed by the property, and attempts to agree on the purchase with its owners have not achieved results.
The sale announcement highlights that it is a “singular and unique” building and that it is a property “with history”, located in a hill-shaped enclave “with privileged views, ideal for reconstruction and use as summer and rest house.”
In total, the property offered occupies 931 square meters and the remains of the fortification include a square tower and abundant remains of walls. The website warns that it is a property “to be renovated.”
For its part, the medieval tower, with its structure relatively well preserved, was built with masonry, except for the corners and openings, which are made of ashlar, although the advertisement assures that the construction is also "to be renovated."
In total, the surface area offered is 330 square meters and also includes the old cattle pens attached to the monument. Among its advantages, its easy accessibility stands out given that it is located at the foot of the road that connects the town of Molinos with Castellote.
Its owner, Jorge Esteban, acknowledges to the Aragonese newspaper that he has received three promising proposals to purchase the property, which has been in the family for 70 years after his grandfather bought it, amid the “avalanche” of contacts registered since the publication came out. announced the sale three weeks ago.
Furthermore, he assures that the roof is in danger of collapsing and that he cannot assume the cost of the rehabilitation, and that when selling, he will prioritize offers that plan to convert the farmhouse into a tourist business that contributes to boosting the local economy. .
