Seu Vella de Lleida - The Old Cathedral of Lleida
The monumental ensemble of La Seu Vella is strategically situated in the middle of Lleida on a hilltop site dominating the city and the plain of Lleida. It consists of the old cathedral (Seu Vella), the King’s Castle (La Suda), a fortification that surrounds the hill, and archaeological remains from the Iberian, Roman and Muslim periods. The old cathedral is the most important monument, an example of Catalan architecture from the 13th century. The King’s Castle, also known as La Suda in reference to the Andalusian fortress dating from the 9th century, was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. It was a royal residence and important political and administrative centre, where different Corts (the legislative body of the Crown of Aragon) met up. The fortifications include bastions, stretches of wall and tunnels dating from the Early and Late Modern periods.