Miravet Castle (Castell de Miravet)

Miravet Castle (Castell de Miravet) is a Templar fortress on a rock about 100 m above the River Ebro and the village of Miravet, in the Ribera d’Ebre, 46 km north of La Ràpita in a straight line. A paved road climbs from the village to a car park beside the walls, and below the old town you can still cross the river on the “pas de barca”, a ferry pushed only by the current. It suits anyone interested in castles, the Templars or the Civil War; skip it if you cannot manage steep, uneven ground.

Quick facts

• Names: Miravet Castle; Castell de Miravet in Catalan, Castillo de Miravet in Spanish. Not to be confused with the ruined castle of the same name at Cabanes, in Castellón.
• Where: Carrer del Castell, s/n, 43747 Miravet (Ribera d’Ebre, Tarragona), on the right bank of the Ebro.
• Coordinates: 41.0355, 0.5941.
• Built: on an Andalusi (Muslim) fortress; conquered in 1153 and handed the same year to the Order of the Temple, which rebuilt it.
• Size: a double walled enclosure; the outer perimeter is about 600 m long and the inner one 290 m (spain.info). The walls reach 25 m in height.
• Phone: +34 977 40 73 68 (listed by spain.info).
• From La Ràpita: 46 km in a straight line; 25 km north of Tortosa Cathedral.

Access and parking

By car: Miravet lies on the right bank of the Ebro, upstream from Tortosa. From La Ràpita (town guide) the natural route is inland via Tortosa. In the village, a paved road climbs to the castle, where you can park; the car park sits where a defensive ditch was once cut into the rock.

On foot: the old village climbs the rock from the river towards the castle; the steep, cobbled Costa de Riago runs down to the water.

The river ferry (pas de barca): the crossing lies about 1 km from the Plaça de l’Arenal, on the road OpenStreetMap names the Carretera de Miravet pel Pas de la Barca. It links Miravet with the left bank of the Ebro. We could not confirm its current timetable or fare.

Without a car: we could not confirm a bus service to Miravet from La Ràpita or Tortosa. Plan on a car.

What to expect

Miravet is considered one of the best examples of Templar military architecture in Europe: a model of fortress brought from the Holy Land, with a compact upper castle around a courtyard inside a larger lower enclosure. The walls, of large regular blocks with almost no openings, look remarkably uniform, a sign they were raised quickly.

The upper enclosure

Around the courtyard stand the rooms the knights lived and worked in: dormitory, stables, refectory, storerooms, granary and wine cellar. The great hall is entered through a horseshoe-arched door. The church of Sant Martí is 13th-century Romanesque, with a single nave under a slightly pointed barrel vault and a semicircular apse (spain.info).

The Treasure Tower and the lower enclosure

In the 13th century Miravet became the seat of the Order of the Temple in the Crown of Aragon, holding its archive and treasury; one tower is still called the Torre del Tresor. When King James II ordered the arrest of the Templars in December 1307, Miravet held out for a year, until 12 December 1308. Royal officials then found 650 gold florins and thousands of silver coins inside. The lower enclosure, about 12,000 m², held stores, stables, workshops, a cistern and gardens, plus the chapel of Sant Miquel. The present gate is 17th-century.

Civil War

The castle was fought over again in 1938. Francoist troops occupied Miravet on 5 April 1938 and fortified the castle; in July, at the start of the Battle of the Ebro, Republican forces of Líster’s 11th Division shelled it from the far bank until the garrison surrendered.

Miravet village and the pas de barca

Below the castle, the old village holds an old river landing, a medieval mill, arcades, the former Jewish and Morisco quarter, and the Església Vella, a 17th-century church built by the Knights Hospitaller on the site of the mosque. In front of it, the Plaça de la Sanaqueta is a viewpoint over the river. Miravet is also known for its pottery: the Raval dels Canterers quarter keeps seven working potteries making traditional water jugs (càntirs).

The ferry is the other reason to come. Two boats (llaguts) carry a wooden platform big enough for three cars. A cable running to a thicker one strung high across the river keeps it from drifting, and the current pushes it across while the ferryman steers. It is the last ferry on the Ebro that runs without an engine.

Practical details

• Opening hours and tickets: we could not check them: the Generalitat heritage website was not reachable when we checked. Ring +34 977 40 73 68 before you go.
• Festivals: the Diada de la Cirera (cherry day) in early June and the main festival around 12 October.
• Shopping: the village cooperative makes Miravet extra-virgin olive oil.

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times for the climb up through the village; in summer go early in the day. Cherry season in early June brings the Diada de la Cirera. In summer, the castle hosts the occasional evening theatre or music event. The ferry runs on the river’s current and its landing ramp moves with the water level, so check it is operating before you plan around it.

Nearby alternatives

• Tortosa Cathedral and the Castell de la Suda, 25 km away: the Gothic cathedral and the Moorish castle above Tortosa. See also the Tortosa town guide.
• Via Verda greenway: the old railway line from Tortosa up the Ebro valley to the Terra Alta, for cycling.
• Els Ports Natural Park, 33 km away: the limestone mountains west of Tortosa.
• L’Ametlla de Mar, 24 km away: the nearest stretch of coast, with coves and a fishing port.
• Ebro Delta, 36 km away, where the river meets the sea. Our Ebro Delta coast area guide covers the coast from L’Hospitalet de l’Infant to Alcanar.

Distances are in a straight line from the castle.

FAQ

Is there parking at Miravet Castle?

Yes. A paved road climbs from the village to the castle, where you can park beside the walls.

How far is Miravet Castle from La Ràpita?

46 km in a straight line, north up the Ebro valley beyond Tortosa. There is no confirmed direct public transport, so go by car.

Was Miravet a Templar castle?

Yes. It was Muslim until 1153, when it was given to the Order of the Temple, and became the order’s seat in the Crown of Aragon.

What is the pas de barca in Miravet?

A traditional river ferry about 1 km from the village square. It is pushed across only by the current, the last unmotorised ferry on the Ebro.

What are the opening hours of Miravet Castle?

We could not confirm current hours or prices. The phone number listed by Spain’s tourism portal is +34 977 40 73 68.

Sources and freshness

Checked 10 November 2026 · 4 sources Show

Checked 10 November 2026. Official: spain.info, Miravet Castle (Turespaña; enclosures, rooms, church, address and phone). The castle’s managing body (Generalitat heritage service) and Miravet town hall websites could not be checked when we checked, so hours, prices and the ferry timetable are not given. Background: Catalan Wikipedia on Castell de Miravet (walls, Treasure Tower, Civil War) and Miravet (village, potteries, festivals, pas de barca). Location, ferry road and distances: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos: Wikimedia Commons, licences as credited.