Quart Towers

Quart Towers are a pair of late Gothic city gates on Plaça de Santa Úrsula, west of Valencia’s old centre. Built in the 15th century, they formed part of the medieval walls that once defended the city. Look closely at the stone for cannonball marks left during the 1808 fighting with French forces, then climb the towers for wide views across Valencia. The interior has limited historical information, so reading a little about the towers before you go can add context to the visit.

A gate in Valencia’s medieval walls

The Quart Towers, also known as the Puerta de Quart, were built in the 15th century in the late Gothic style. They served as a fortified entrance to Valencia, alongside other gates in the city’s defensive walls. The walls and most of their gates were demolished in the 19th century as the city expanded. The Quart Towers survived, leaving them among the clearest remaining traces of the walled city.

Their role changed over time. The towers were used as a women’s prison and a military prison, as well as a defensive gate. Their substantial stone structure still carries marks of the conflicts that reached Valencia.

Marks left by cannon fire

Look across the exterior stonework for pockmarks from cannon fire during the 1808 conflict with French forces. The damage is a visible record of the towers’ defensive past. Their surfaces also bear marks associated with the War of Succession and the Spanish Civil War.

The climb takes you above the street and offers views across Valencia. There is little interpretive information inside, so a short read about the towers beforehand can help put the architecture and battle damage in context.