“You see those antennas in the background, they mark the limit of the farm, and when my great-grandfather, Manuel Raventós, bought the land there was nothing but a desert with a castle and the centuries-old oak tree,” says Elena de Carandini, who gets emotional when she speaks. of Raymat castle and the vision that his ancestor had to convert a wasteland into vineyards, forests and a colony that ended up being a town.
It was 1914 when Manuel Raventós Domènech, head of the Codorniu wineries, fascinated by the sweet and tasty flavor of Lleida fruit, bought 3,200 hectares and a semi-ruined castle from the 12th century and embarked on the adventure of building 100 kilometers of ditches, pave roads and bring water and electricity to the site. Now, more than a century later, Raymat Castle stands proud atop the hill in more leafy surroundings and is the family residence of Elena de Carandini, president of the Raimat-Lleida Community Foundation.
The family heritage can be seen in the main façade and in the blue tiles in the living room, which feature a hand and a bunch of grapes, the castle's coat of arms, which became a symbol of the Raimat wineries, and which is reproduced in the Vol d'ànima wine labels. The castle, which is more than a fortress but a typical medieval surveillance watchtower, is open to anyone who wants to enjoy a premium experience.
It is neither a hotel nor a restaurant, but a meeting place for different types of events and activities that encourage reflection and learning and agree with the values such as sustainability and regenerative cultures defended by the Foundation directed by Elena de Carandini, organizer of the Raimat Arts Festival, a musical and artistic weekend of which two editions have already been held.
Renovated in 1932 by Rafael Masó, the castle consists of ten suites, four floors and a tower and is fully rented, either for families looking for a haven of peace or for companies that want to hold events or presentations. The stays are complemented with guided visits to the town of Raimat or Lleida, walks or bike rides through the vineyards, picnic meals, and activities at Raimat Natura, the natural and ecological space open to the public, and the profits are partially allocated to the Raimat-Lleida Community Foundation.
The monumental complex is in itself a museum full of history. Confiscated by the national troops in the Civil War, Franco settled there to direct the battle of the Ebro and the bed he occupied is still preserved and a trapdoor that covers a narrow hole that connected with the main room and through which, they say, the The general listened to the comments of his officers while he was in his quarters.
“The climate is good, it is hot during the day and cool at night,” explains Elena de Carandini, and that is also the secret of Raimat wines, which in 1986 promoted the Costers del Segre designation of origin. Previously, the Raventós family was a pioneer in the introduction of typical California techniques and varieties and introduced grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. And the best way to see it is to savor it from the castle tower, on an autumn evening with divine views.
