Holiday apartment in Portell: Festivals, castle and Font Vella

Portell combines festive traditions with distinctive traces of its history. Between the Festa Major, the Festa dels Apòstols, Castell de Portell and the Font Vella or Pou Àrab, you will discover a place where culture is visible in customs, religious buildings and small architectural details. When choosing a holiday apartment in Portell, these different facets can determine the focus of your stay.

Holiday apartment in Portell for festivals and culture

When planning a holiday apartment in Portell, it is worth looking at the dates and themes that interest you most. The Festa Major de Portell takes place on 31 August in honour of Sant Ramon. It includes a religious ceremony as well as a dance event in the afternoon. This festival therefore combines a religious occasion with a convivial programme item.

On 1 May, the Festa dels Apòstols de Portell includes a procession to the Santuari de Sant Ramon. During the Festa, the Tres Tombs take place after the solemn Mass. The Goigs are also sung in honour of the saint after the solemn Mass. For families and other travellers, this provides a varied insight into religious and community traditions, without limiting the visit to a single sight.

Castell de Portell and the upper part of the village

The origins of Castell de Portell date back to the first half of the 11th century. The first documented mention of Castell de Portell dates from 1035. Count Guifré II of Cerdanya bequeathed the castle to his son Bernat. This date gives the castle a clearly traceable historical depth.

The preserved cylindrical watchtower that belonged to the former Castell de Portell is located in the upper part of the village. The parish church of Sant Jaume is also located in the upper part of Portell. Those interested in medieval architectural history and religious architecture will find two spatially connected aspects of the village here.

Font Vella at the entrance to the village

At the entrance to the village, opposite the Capella de Sant Ramon de Portell, lies the Font Vella or Pou Àrab de Portell. It is an old underground water shaft. The structure is built of masonry and covered with a barrel vault; the outer entrance features a round arch.

A descending staircase leads into the cylindrical interior of the Font Vella or Pou Àrab de Portell. Depending on the water level, this interior may be partially flooded. It is precisely the combination of location, vault, round arch and underground interior that makes this place an illustrative detail within the history of Portell.

The Santuari de Sant Ramon Nonat in the surrounding area

In the vicinity of Portell, the Santuari de Sant Ramon Nonat comprises Baroque monastery buildings and a Baroque church, as well as a Neoclassical cloister from the 19th and 20th centuries. The different architectural styles broaden the cultural perspective on Portell and are also connected with the procession of the Festa dels Apòstols to the Santuari.

Other places that you can consider visiting as a supplement are Alberola, Senterada, Castell De Mur, Llarvén, Tornafort, Guils del Cantó, Aravell and Bellpuig.

For the broader travel overview: Lleida.