Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »
Countries
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan
Cities
  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Statue of Maria Pita
Plaza Maria Pita
Phu Loc Champa Temple
Tai Hang Fire Dragon
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
The pump station
Durham Pump Station
Loading...
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Only-in-Anchorage Winter Traditions
Moose are frequently spotted around Flattop Mountain and the Glen Alps Trailhead.
Anchorage: A City Within the Wild
Where to See the World’s Creepiest Dolls and Toys
The Hunterian Museum in London.
Where to See the World’s Most Famous Preserved Body Parts

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Castellcir Castle Stern - Castell de la Popa

Castle Stern - Castell de la Popa

These striking ruins of a castle resemble a ship's stern.

Castellcir, Spain

serflac profile photo
Added By
ser flac
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
  User Submitted
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Named for the part of a ship that rises over the main deck aft, Castell de la Popa ("Castle Stern" in English) is an unsusual rock formation in Spain.

Ruins take many shapes and sizes, but typically they more or less resemble what they once were. A building. A temple. A castle. 

But this particular castle resembles something wholly different: The stern of a massive ship, rising jagged and rocky out of the landscape. Thus came its nickname, the Castle Stern. Visitors come to this landmark in the countryside to see what was once a castle, but just as often to see the new shape -- the accidental ship.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Community Contributors

serflac profile photo

Added By

serflac

Published

November 16, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos

Related Tags

Geological Oddities Geology
Castle Stern - Castell de la Popa
Castellcir, 08183
Spain
41.760433, 2.148678

Nearby Places

Church of Sant Miquel del Fai

Sant Quirze Safaja, Spain

miles away

Hospital Torax de Terrassa

Terrassa, Spain

miles away

Les Arnaules Prehistoric Bridge

Manresa, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 929
Stories 38

Nearby Places

Church of Sant Miquel del Fai

Sant Quirze Safaja, Spain

miles away

Hospital Torax de Terrassa

Terrassa, Spain

miles away

Les Arnaules Prehistoric Bridge

Manresa, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 929
Stories 38

Related Places

  • The Inselbergs

    Regina, French Guiana

    The Inselbergs

    Islands of granite rise above the rainforest canopy to form unique microbiomes in a remote French territory.

  • Tsingy Rouge

    Madagascar

    Tsingy Rouge

    The Great Tsingy has a smaller, rose-colored cousin.

  • Tianliao Moon World

    Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

    Tianliao Moon World

    Visit Taiwan’s badlands, which allows visitors to feel like they’re walking on the moon.

  • Ulakhan-Sis Range

    Russia

    Ulakhan-Sis Range

    A remote Arctic mountain range is home to "granite cities" found almost nowhere else.

  • A beach on the island with distinctive rock formations.

    Malpe, India

    Thonsepar

    These four small islands contain unique hexagonal rock formations.

  • The winding curves of Ybykty Canyon.

    Koyulus, Kazakhstan

    Ybykty Canyon

    This small canyon is home to a treasure trove of geological oddities.

  • Suntrana Canyon

    Healy, Alaska

    Suntrana Canyon

    This often-overlooked canyon dazzles and intrigues with its many layers of colors, shapes and odd formations.

  • Looking down at the water-carved tunnels

    Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

    Trümmelbach Falls

    Visit Europe's largest subterranean waterfall, carved by water from the glaciers of the towering peaks surrounding the valley.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.