The village and the castle of Miravet were founded by the Moors and rebuilt by the Knights Templar and transformed into a fortress-monastery, after the conquest of 1153. It is considered to be the largest fortified complex in Catalonia, and one of the best examples of Romanesque, religious, and military, the architecture of the Templar order in the whole Western world.
INFO OF THE CITY
The historic center of Miravet is a network of houses that hang over the river and climb the mountain and cliffs. Going up its streets we can find the typical porched streets, old houses, beautiful corners, and very good views over the river and its vegetation. Also noteworthy is the desolation created by the Battle of the Ebro, which can still be seen with the many fallen and abandoned houses.
It’s very easy to visit Miravet in one day, there is a lot of free parking around the city. Few restaurants, so if you stay for lunch or dinner book in advance.
Miravet boat crossing: Every day 8:00 am – 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm (or sunset during the winter months). It is open on Sundays and public holidays at 9:00. Weekends from March to December do not close at noon.
MIRAVET
The Miravet Castle is A 12th-century Templar fortress, built on a hill that controls the whole territory, the river Ebro that passes through its feet and dominates the entire population of Miravet. In good condition, it is one of the great examples of its style in Western Europe. You can visit the walls and different rooms such as stables, cisterns, kitchen, refectory, warehouses, or the important Romanesque church. Close on Monday.
If we go up in front of the church we will find the viewpoint of La Sanaqueta, the old courtyard of the mosque, which offers great views. If we follow Carrer de Ferreries, where the horses of the lords of the castle were ironed and we will reach a cobbled path, the Costa de Riago, where we will be able to read the poem of Roc Llop, an illustrious Miraveta who lived in exile for a long time.
The Old Church is located in the center of the old town of Miravet and has been turned into a cultural monument after years of neglect. It is a Renaissance temple built between the 16th and 17th centuries by the Order of the Hospital on the space where the ancient mosque of the Muslim population could be located. It is currently open for Easter and summer, or at special times. It hosts a series of permanent exhibitions on its own history, Miravetan pottery, floods, the Templars, and so on.
AROUND MIRAVET
Priorat is a very small and mountainous area in the interior of the province of Tarragona, crossed by the basins of the rivers Siurana, Montsant, and Cortiella, we spend 3 days at Priorat. In the Priorat region, wine tourists can find more than just fine wines and wineries to visit. There’s also a wide variety of landscapes, inviting visitors to explore and discover the area on the DOQ Priorat Wine Route, the DO Montsant Wine Route and the Olive Oil Route.
