Amics del Museu de Xàbia
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        • THE STONE AGES - PALAEOLITHIC, EPIPALAEOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC
        • CAVE PAINTINGS (ARTE RUPESTRE)
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      • Quaderns: Versión castellana >
        • 1. La Romanización en las tierras de Xàbia
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        • 3. La prehistoria de Xàbia y su entorno
      • Quaderns: English versions >
        • 1. Romanisation of Xàbia
        • 2. Xàbia in the Modern Era
        • 3. The Prehistory of Xàbia and its surroundings.
    • Catálogo de castillos regionales >
      • Castells / Castillos / Castles - Intro
      • Castillo de Aielo de Rugat
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12. Mascarat and Bèrdia - Castles of the southern region

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After the conquest by King Jaume I, instability caused by the revolts of Al-Azraq, compelled the castle to be reinforced, giving it a relatively large garrison composed of fifteen men.

From the late 13th century onwards the castle lost its military function and there are only a few documentary references to it. In the 16th century one of the coastal watchtowers of the Kingdom of Valencia was built in its enclosure.

​The extensive administrative district from the Islamic era was maintained into the Christian feudal period creating the Barony of Calpe. In 1386 the territory was divided to form the new areas of Benissa, Calpe and Teulada.

Mascarat: To the Southeast of the Marina Alta stood the hisn of "Calb", a large territory which included the present municipalities of Calpe, Benissa, Teulada and Senija. The 13th century Llibre del Repartiment listed ten farmsteads (alquerias): Portu de Calp, Benayça, Canahor, Lenes, Lleus, Merre, Moraira, Paratella, Senija and Teulada. The names of many of these farmsteads survive as rural districts to this day, and even a square tower of Islamic origin has been conserved in Canor.

The main fortification of this hisn was located west of the town of Calpe, almost at the border with Altea, on a 253 metre high limestone outcrop which controlled the Mascarat pass. This was the only route from the north
to the south which avoided having to cross the steep mountains of the interior. Access to the fortress, which barely currently exists, was from the east; reaching a more or less flat platform where there are the remains of a straight wall of a square tower. In total the castle covers an area of 750/700 m². The tower is made of tapia of lime mortar and pebbles and is about 4.5 meters tall and 4.8 meters in length. A few metres to the west lies a possible water cistern that makes use of a natural hole in the limestone.

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Bèrdia castle: This small castle of Islamic origin lies at the top of the steep mountain range of the Bernia, just above 1,129 metres. The structures which are still visible are the foundations of various walls which together comprise an overall rectangular layout about 44 metres long (east / west) and 8.5 metres wide (north / south); a total of 375 square metres.

There are no known water cisterns. Documentation reveals that the water was stored in large ceramic jars, some fragments of which have been found in the castle.

​The walls were built using standard masonry made with lime mortar and in some cases gypsum mortar, but also form-work of limestone bricks and lime mortar.
Access to the fortress is from the west by a steep path which goes along the ridge towards the end. It shows some adaptation to the rock to facilitate access which is always difficult. The castle sits on an elongated space, separated to the west by a hole in the rock which was probably natural, but could have been intentionally enlarged to improve defence by hindering access. At the other end the terrain drops sharply, creating a hillock which separates the castle from the ridge which continues to the east. 

​Many documents from the Christian feudal era refer to the castle of Bèrdia. Its strategic importance is clear from the time of the conquest by Jaume I until the middle of the 14th century, when it seems that the castle was destroyed by the Crown. There is only archaeological evidence regarding its use in Islamic times, but there are abundant pottery shards around the castle, on the west slope and at the foot of the fort which dates a Muslim occupation between the 11th and 13th centuries.
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  • Home
    • Qui Som?
    • ¿Quienes Somos?
    • About Us
    • Calendario
    • Actas
  • Blogs
    • Activitats
    • Actividades
    • Activities
  • Projectes
    • Premio de Investigación - Formularios de Inscripción
    • Traducciones Translations >
      • DISPLAY PANELS - GROUND FLOOR >
        • THE STONE AGES - PALAEOLITHIC, EPIPALAEOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC
        • CAVE PAINTINGS (ARTE RUPESTRE)
        • CHALCOLITHIC (Copper) & BRONZE AGES
        • THE IBERIAN CULTURE (THE IRON AGE)
        • THE IBERIAN TREASURE OF XÀBIA
        • THE ROMAN SETTLEMENTS OF XÀBIA
        • THE ROMAN SITE AT PUNTA DE L'ARENAL
        • THE MUNTANYAR NECROPOLIS
        • ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIONS OF THE PUNTA DE L'ARENAL
        • THE ATZÚBIA SITE
        • THE MINYANA SMITHY
      • Translations archive
      • Quaderns: Versión castellana >
        • 1. La Romanización en las tierras de Xàbia
        • 2. Xàbia en la Modernidad
        • 3. La prehistoria de Xàbia y su entorno
      • Quaderns: English versions >
        • 1. Romanisation of Xàbia
        • 2. Xàbia in the Modern Era
        • 3. The Prehistory of Xàbia and its surroundings.
    • Catálogo de castillos regionales >
      • Castells / Castillos / Castles - Intro
      • Castillo de Aielo de Rugat
      • Castillo de Alcalá (Benisili)
      • Castillo de Borró
      • Castillo de Carbonera
      • Castillo de Castalla
      • Castillo de Chio /Xiu (Llutxent)
      • Castillo de Enguera
      • Castillo de Montesa
      • Inventario
    • Exposició - Castells Andalusins >
      • Intro - Valenciá
    • Exposición - Castillos Andalusíes >
      • Intro - Castellano
    • Exhibition - Islamic castles >
      • Intro and menu - English
    • Sylvia A. Schofield - Libros donados
    • Mejorar la entrada/improve the entrance >
      • Proyecto - fotos
      • Cartel Roll-up
  • Historia y enlaces
    • Historía de Xàbia >
      • La Cova del Barranc del Migdia
      • El Vell Cementeri de Xàbia
      • El Torpedinament del Vapor Germanine
      • El Saladar i les Salines
      • La Telegrafía y la Casa de Cable
      • Pescadores de Xàbia
      • La Caseta de Biot
      • La Guerra Civil / the Spanish civil war >
        • Intro - La Guerra Civil / the Spanish civil war
        • El refugi de la guerra del moll de Xàbia
        • l'Arquitectura de la Guerra a Xàbia
        • El bombardeig de Xàbia
        • Planos - Refugi Moll
    • History of Xàbia (English articles) >
      • Ermita del Pòpul - a brief history
      • Telegraphy and the Casa del Cable
      • Civil war architecture in Xàbia
      • Cemetery of San Joan
      • Cova del Migdía
      • Quintus Sertorius - the "Braveheart" of Hispania
    • Charlas y excursiones / talks and excursions >
      • Fotos de actividades
      • Expo Iran - MARQ
      • La Illyeta dels Banyets
      • Al Azraq
      • La Pilota Valenciana
      • Pla de Petracos
      • Cova del Comte - Pedreguer
    • Investigacions del museu - Museum investigations
    • Enllaços
    • Enlaces
    • Links
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • You Tube
  • Visitas virtuales
    • Museu de Xàbia
    • Iglesia de San Bartolomé
    • Capella Santa Anna
    • Ermita de Santa Llúcia
    • Ermita de San Joan
    • Santuario de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels
    • Ermita del Popul
    • Ermita del Calvario
    • Casa tradicional l'Escaldá
    • Casa tradicional Carrer Nou
  • Tenda Tienda Shop
    • Souvenirs
    • Llibres / libros / books