Seu Vella and Castle of the King-Suda

The Seu Vella old cathedral, also known as “Lleida Castle”, is definitely the city’s most emblematic monument.

This unique cathedral sits on top of the hill overlooking the city and affords magnificent views of Lleida and the surrounding countryside of Segrià county. Construction of the cathedral began in 1203, but the bell tower was not completed until 1431. The first master builder was Pere de Coma. According to historians, the cathedral was built on top of a former Muslim mosque. The temple was the first building to be completed and was consecrated for worship in 1278 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It has a Latin cross floor plan with a nave and two aisles.

The Old Cathedral

The outstanding features of the interior include the stonework in the naves, which show the influence of the artisans from Tuscany, Toulouse and Provence who worked on the cathedral throughout the 13th century, as well as the remains of Gothic mural paintings. After the consecration of the temple, work continued into the 14th century, when the cloister was completed and construction work began on the bell tower and lasted until 1431.

The Seu Vella is a site of the 1714 Route, the War of the Spanish Succession.

The Canonja

The entrance to the Seu Vella is through the Canonja, the name given to the set of buildings that housed the priests and canons who made up the Chapter at the cathedral. These buildings date from the second half of the 12th century to the 16th century, and include the remains of the old church of Santa Maria l’Antiga, different chapels, the Pia Almoïna (canon’s house), the Chapter room, the archive, and the Decanóa or Vault House.

The Doorways

Besides the current entrance doorway in La Canonja, there are other doorways of great cultural interest, such as the Anunciata doorway (13th century), the “Fillols” doorway (13th-14th centuries), the Sant Berenguer doorway (12th century), and the Apostles’ doorway (14th-15th centuries), as well as the three doors from the cloister (13th century), which provide a clear example of the style of architectural sculpture known as the Lleida School.

The Bell Tower

The oldest bells are from the 15th century: They are called Silvestra, which rings on the hours, and Mònica, which rings on the quarter hours. The other five are electric bells from the mid-20th century that have an essentially liturgical function. They are called Bàrbara, Puríssima, Crist, Marieta and Meuc.

The Cloister

This 14th-century rectangular cloister is a unique, open cloister, located on the west side of the cathedral. It has a gallery with five ogival arches and elegant tracery windows that provide breathtaking views of the city and the countryside beyon.

The Castle of the King - La Suda

Last Caliph of Cordoba refuge, venue of the Aragon’s Crown origin or witness of the loyalty oath of the catalan and aragonese nobles to Infante James (later James I the Conqueror). These are some of the historical facts that the Suda Castle or King Castle has lived within the walls during its existence.

So outstanding episodes in the history of Lleida, Catalonia and, of course, of Spain have been developed in this building situated at the top of the Seu Vella’s hill, crowning the Sovereign Rock.

A privileged and a strategic site that holds a castle of Muslim origin that dates from the year 882 where Lleida has opened an Interpretation Centre.

This Centre, located in the royal hall of the Castle, has a museum area with information panels and an audiovisual that shows the history of the building.

The cultural equipment is completed with a viewpoint terrace where you could observe the landscape. It is the highest accessible point of the city.