Welcome to Miravet Castle.

With this guide, you’ll discover the history of this place and the stories of the people who have been connected to it over the centuries. Just listen and let the guide lead the way. You’ll also find guide points marked on the panels throughout the castle.

Before we begin, a quick warning: when the castle’s Wi-Fi was being installed, some mysterious interference from the past was picked up. From time to time, you might hear voices from people who once lived here. Don’t be alarmed – just listen.

Now, head to the first point on the guide, located at the top of the stairs that lead down to the stables. Let’s get started!

This castle is an impressive fortress built by the Order of the Temple in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Templars were a religious and military order founded in Jerusalem in 1120 – the first of its kind in the Christian world. Their main mission was to protect Christian pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land, care for them and to conquer and defend sacred sites.

For over 150 years, Miravet Castle served as the main centre for Templar commanderies along the River Ebro. It became one of the most powerful strongholds in medieval Catalonia, with a network of military and economic influence that, at times, rivalled even the authority of kings.

Have you ever wondered why the castle was built right here? The answer, of course, lies in the views. Perched on a hill around 100 metres above the River Ebro, this vantage point offers commanding views over the surrounding landscape. Thanks to its strategic location, it has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Iberians were among the first settlers here, followed perhaps by the Romans, and later by Muslims and Christians. From this elevated position, they controlled a region where the river shaped not only the landscape but also the economy and human relations.

To continue your visit, head to the next point on the guide.

You now know about the Templar fortress – but this site has much more to reveal. Beneath the foundations of the castle lie the remains of an earlier stronghold: a hisn, built during the Andalusi period. This is a reminder of a society that, under the name of al-Andalus, ruled this part of the peninsula from the 8th to the 12th centuries. Eventually, this culture was displaced by the new Christian feudal lords. And that’s not all: these walls have witnessed many other historic episodes, often marked by conflict and war, right up until well into the 20th century.

At first glance, Miravet Castle impresses with the sheer height and thickness of its walls. But was such a fortress really needed for defence alone? Or did it also serve other purposes?

As you’ve heard, the Templars constructed their castle over the ruins of the earlier Andalusi hisn, preserving part of its original layout. But they didn’t simply reuse the old structure – they built a far grander, more monumental fortress as a clear statement of their new power. Their intention was to turn the building into a symbol of Christian authority and to erase the legacy of the Saracens – the name used by Christians for the Andalusi after the conquest. As so often in history, replacing the symbols of a previous culture is a powerful way of asserting one’s own.

As you’ve seen, Miravet – known as Murabit during the Andalusi era – has been shaped by various cultures over the centuries. But what was life here like over the course of history? How did power pass from one group to another? Did communities of different faiths live together, or merely side by side? And what was daily life like for the local villagers? The answers lie within these walls.

To continue, head down the stairs beside you and stop at the door to the stables – the building on your right at the foot of the landing.

This space has had many uses over the centuries and still bears the marks of the different societies that once occupied it.

The oldest remains here are two Iberian walls dating back to the 2nd century BC, likely part of a small settlement. These are the two walls you can see in the centre of the room.

You can also find traces of the Andalusi fortress, or hisn, built during the Islamic period.

However, the structure you see today was built by the Templars in the 12th and 13th centuries. They used it as an administrative centre and storeroom. At that time, the building featured a large entrance with a voussoir arch. Later, during the reign of James II of Aragon, known as ‘the Just’, the Templars were expelled from Miravet, and the castle was handed over to a new religious order: the Order of Saint John, also known as the Hospitallers. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, they converted this space into stables, installing feeding troughs for the animals – still visible today on either side.

These walls have witnessed profound social changes, and the space has continually adapted to meet the needs of each new era.

To learn more about how power shifted from Andalusi rule to the new Christian feudal society, head down to the lower terrace and walk to the far end, where you’ll find the next interpretation panel.

You’re now in the lower courtyard of the castle. This open area likely dates back to the Islamic period, when it formed part of a fortified enclosure known as an albacar. It’s always been uncovered, much like it is today, and was once protected by a wall that stretched up toward the cliffs – shielding the main part of the castle from attack.

It also served as a place of refuge. In times of danger, especially during the centuries before the Christian conquest, local people and their livestock would gather here for safety. Ongoing violence often forced many communities to abandon their homes and seek shelter in places like this.

Conversation: Two Andalusian characters take shelter in the albacar to protect themselves from attacks by the Catalan counts.

A flock of lambs can be heard in the background.

• Man: I can’t take it anymore. We spent most of our time here, sheltered in the castle.
• Woman: We must have faith. Allah will help us stop the Christian soldiers.
• Man: The Christians have already taken Ṭurṭūša and Lārida. Murabit will be next. And I don’t want to be here when that happens. I’m tired of living in fear.
• Woman: What do you want to do then? Leave our land? Abandon our home and that of our ancestors?
• Man: Haven’t you heard what they do to people when they capture towns? Those they don’t kill; they make slaves of them!
• Woman: In some places, they’ve spared people and let them keep their land.
• Man: I’m not going to wait around for the invaders to decide our fate. When things calm down, we’ll head south, to Balansiya. They’ll never get in there.

When the Christians eventually took the territory – according to chronicles of the time – the conquest involved widespread massacres and violence. Most Muslims were either expelled or taken captive, meaning they were enslaved. Many areas were left deserted, and in places like Siurana, Ulldecona and La Sénia, there was no trace left of the former Muslim population.

In some areas, such as Ribera d’Ebre – particularly in Ascó, Móra and Vinebre – some of the defeated Muslim population were allowed to remain. This resulted in a form of coexistence with the Christian communities, although they lived apart and remained largely segregated. In other villages – including Miravet, Benissanet and Riba-roja – the Muslim presence remained almost entirely intact. This wasn’t out of compassion, but because their agricultural expertise made them economically valuable to the new feudal lords. These communities maintained a degree of autonomy, organising themselves through the aljama and continuing to operate under legal systems distinct from those of the Christians.

This coexistence came to an end in the early 16th century, when Muslims were forced to convert to Christianity and became known as moriscos, or “New Christians”. In the 17th century, the moriscos were finally expelled from the Iberian Peninsula by order of King Philip III.

To continue your visit, follow the wall until you reach the south terrace. You can access it through a break in the ramparts.

During the Andalusi period, the area surrounding Miravet was carefully cultivated, consisting mainly of small plots tended by skilled farmers. If you look closely today, you will still see a patchwork of fields much as it was in those times.

These plots were situated around the village dwellings and near the riverbanks, but safely beyond flood-prone areas. Irrigation was provided by norias, ingenious mechanical waterwheels that lifted water from wells – a technology introduced and widely spread by the Arabs. An illustration of a noria can be seen on the information panel. Remnants of some of these waterwheels are still preserved in the village today.

The plots yielded a variety of vegetables such as turnips, cabbages, aubergines, melons and watermelons, many of which were introduced by the Arabs to these lands. Further inland, beyond the river’s flooding zone, cereals, vineyards and fruit trees such as fig trees were cultivated. Olive trees were particularly important; while some olives were reserved for consumption, the majority were pressed to produce oil. This oil was essential for cooking, preserving food and lighting lamps. Part of the olive oil production took place in the castle’s own mill, equipped with a large press.

In addition to cultivated land, there were extensive uncultivated areas used for gathering natural resources, including hunting, fishing, collecting wild fruits and firewood. These lands also served as pastures for livestock.

Miravet was also a notable centre for pottery. Large wooden crates containing ceramic items – jugs, bowls, plates and pots – were commonly seen outside many village houses.

Following the Christian conquest of Miravet, the existing Andalusi farmers and their agricultural methods were largely maintained. However, they focused more on growing cereals and tending vineyards, since grain and wine were easier to store.

Under Templar rule, Miravet Castle was more than a military stronghold; it functioned as an administrative centre where justice was administered and taxes – known as feudal rents – were collected. These rents were associated with the use of infrastructure such as mills and the river or were paid in kind through a portion of crops or livestock.

The castle’s strategic position allowed control over this stretch of the Ebro River, facilitating the trade of goods and the management of essential services, such as river crossings. It also served as a lookout against river pirates, who posed a genuine threat at the time. Yes, you heard right – there really were pirates on the Ebro!

To continue your visit, head to the terrace directly opposite the castle’s main entrance. You will find the next information panel located in the centre of this space.

The Christian capture of Miravet Castle must be understood within the wider context of the reconquest of al-Andalus territories beyond Tarragona, in what is now known as New Catalonia.

Between 1148 and 1149, Count Ramon Berenguer IV led lengthy and arduous sieges that resulted in the capture of Tortosa and Lleida. The Muslim defenders offered fierce resistance, but ultimately these cities surrendered. The conquest was marked by massacres, and many people were taken captive.

In 1153, after four centuries of Andalusi presence in New Catalonia, Siurana and Miravet were the final strongholds to fall to the new feudal order. Upon conquest, Ramon Berenguer IV granted the castle to the Knights Templar.

Now it is time to enter the castle. But first, take a moment to observe the bastion before you on the left, which protects the enclosure. This bastion is not Templar in origin; it was constructed much later, probably in the 18th century, atop an earlier defensive tower from the Hospitaller period. Archaeological excavations have also uncovered remains of the original Andalusi walls. This bastion exemplifies how the castle’s structures were continually adapted to suit the needs of each era.

Go through the gate to reach the upper ward of the castle, where the main Templar buildings once stood. On either side of the entrance passage you will see the cistern, where water was stored for the castle’s use, and the guardhouse, where soldiers were stationed to watch over the enclosure.

Conversation between a guard and Saïd, a young man delivering vegetables to the castle kitchen.

Soldier: Halt! Who goes there?

Saïd: As-salamu alaykum. Peace be with you.

Soldier: I’ve not seen you before. Who are you, and what have you got in that basket?

Saïd: My name’s Saïd. I’ve brought vegetables for the kitchen.

Soldier: Let’s have a look… Mmm, that basket looks good. Looks like you’ve had a good harvest.

Saïd: There’s cauliflower, spinach and broad beans.

Soldier: Broad beans? Already?

Saïd: It turned cold early this year. There’s also some parsnip. And very sweet pomegranates.

Soldier: Let’s see… Give me one.

Saïd: They’re for the castle.

Soldier: And who do you think I am? If I say you’re not coming in, you’re not coming in.

Saïd: All right then. Here you are.

Soldier: And not a word about this, understood? Now get moving – with all this chatting, you’ll be late.

Saïd: In shā’ Allāh.

The next point of interest on your visit is the information panel located in the courtyard, just beyond the entrance passage.

This is the courtyard at the heart of the upper ward – the most protected and authoritative part of the castle.

At ground level, starting on your right, you’ll see an open space that led to the bastion. Next to it is the refectory, followed by a storeroom, and then a doorway that gives access to the powder magazine and the wine cellar.

On the upper floor – the noble level – you’ll find the most important rooms. These include the gallery with its four windows – one of which was later converted into a door. Behind the gallery lies the chapel, and directly above it is the commander’s chamber, where you can spot two small windows. This was the private chamber of the commander, the highest-ranking authority of the Order in this district.

In Templar times, the gallery was accessed via a wooden staircase, designed to be removed in the event of attack. It rested on two stone brackets, or corbels, above the window on the left. If you look closely at the wall in front of you, you can still see one of them.

To the left once stood a building – no longer standing – that housed the stables, an oven, and, probably on the upper floor, the Templars’ dormitory. On the right-hand side was a raised wooden walkway connecting the refectory to the gallery.

To see how the courtyard might have looked, you can view the 3D reconstruction available in the guide.

The commander’s chamber was the true nerve centre of the castle. Though not currently open to visitors, it was once reached via a passage above the refectory and across a small terrace. If you look carefully, you can still make out the remains of this corridor along the wall.

From here, the commander oversaw the entire castle and administered the surrounding villages and lands. He also exercised authority over the other Templar commanderies across the Terres de l’Ebre. Together with the treasury tower, this was the most heavily defended part of the fortress.

This courtyard was where the Templars trained for war. But what kind of war?

At the time, many wealthy Christians aspired to travel to the Holy Land to visit Jerusalem. However, the city was under Muslim control, and pilgrims faced great risks.

In 1095, Pope Urban II issued a call to arms, urging Europe’s Christian kingdoms to form an army and retake these territories. The call was met with enthusiasm among the nobility and so began the Crusades.

Conversation between Hug, a young aspiring Templar, and his master-at-arms in the castle courtyard.

Sound of two heavy swords clashing.

Master: That’s enough for today, Hug! Well done.

The clanging of swords stops.

Hug (a bit out of breath): How did I do, Master?

Master: Not bad. You’re getting better every day.

Hug (happy): Thank you, Master! Do you think I’m ready to be knighted? I can’t wait to go to the Holy Land!

Master: Easy now, lad. You’re only eleven. Don’t be in such a rush. Or do you want to fall in the very first fight?

Hug (disappointed): But Master… I’ve been training for ages. I’m a good warrior.

Master: The enemy trains too. And believe me, they fight like lions.

Hug: But God is on our side! He’ll help me. They worship a false god.

Master: Listen closely, boy. I’ve seen the strongest, bravest men fall on the battlefield. Holy men, trained in the art of war. The infidels may be driven by the devil – but by God, they know how to fight.

Hug: I don’t get it, Master. If they’re so dangerous, why do we let them live here in Miravet? Why don’t we just finish them off?

Master: Son, we need them. Or would you rather be the one out there digging up turnips and cabbages?

The Order of the Temple was founded in Jerusalem in 1120 by a group of knights led by the French noble Hugues de Payens. It was the first religious-military order in Christendom.

Its main mission was to protect Christian pilgrims and care for them, as well as to defend the sacred places of the Holy Land.

In addition to the monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Templars took a fourth vow – the vow of arms. They believed they served God both through prayer and by the sword.

The Templars spread throughout Europe. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, they became one of the most powerful religious and military institutions on the continent. They had the support of both kings and popes.

But how did they manage to amass such an enormous fortune?

The order managed lands, exploited resources and collected feudal rents from the local population in return for protection. They also owned infrastructure that generated income and received generous donations from nobles and monarchs. What’s more, they were exempt from paying taxes, which allowed them to accumulate even greater wealth.

Yet, these vast riches were not used for personal luxury, but to fund their great mission: defending Christendom and the Holy War.

Within the Order of the Temple, not everyone had the same rank or duties.

At the top were the knights – but in reality, only one in ten Templars belonged to this group. Their lives centred on prayer and preparing for battle.

Female Templars were rare, though there are a few known cases, like Ermengarda d’Oluja, who was commander of Raurell, on the bank of the Francolí river. There were also other women in the castle – laywomen who pledged themselves to the Order, usually for a fixed period of service. However, they were always required to be accompanied by their husbands.

Most of the order were sergeants, who served the knights; though some were soldiers.

At the bottom of the hierarchy were the lay brothers, responsible for daily tasks. These included blacksmiths, builders, cobblers, tailors and cooks – as well as peasants, shepherds and millers.

The castle also housed people who were not Templars but formed part of the wider community.

Servants – both men and women – often lived in the nearby village of Miravet and travelled to the castle daily. Their duties varied widely, from working the fields and tending animals to cleaning the castle and doing the Templars’ laundry.

Lastly, there were captives – a gentler term for slaves – who lived in harsh conditions with no rights.

To continue your visit, enter the refectory through the second door on your right as you face the main façade.

This large hall was the refectory, the Templars’ dining room. But its size suggests it was used for other purposes too – perhaps as a communal dormitory for the brothers, or as a meeting room or common area.

Originally, the floor level was higher, about half a metre below the windows on the right. A recent archaeological dig removed several metres of fill, revealing the bases of the Templar columns, remains of the old Andalusi hisn here, this wall fragment, and large fallen stone blocks on the left.

But note: these columns aren’t broken off; they’re part of an unfinished building project. You can read more about this on the information panels.

To see how the dining hall might have looked, you can view the 3D reconstruction available in the guide.

The Templars ate at shared tables, always in pairs, to avoid the temptation of gluttony. While they ate, one of the Templars would read religious texts aloud, which everyone had to listen to in silence.

Their diet was simple, based on local produce. There’s an interactive game here if you want to learn more.   

Servants and captives had a much poorer diet. According to Templar rules, they were given leftover bread slices from the day and a tenth of the total bread collected as alms. Only on Sundays were they allowed some meat.

Now, leave the refectory and go up to the noble floor using the metal staircase – the stone stairs are currently closed to visitors. Once upstairs, stay in the gallery – that’s the next stop on the guide.

This gallery served as a kind of transitional space – like a small cloister – allowing movement throughout the castle while also letting natural light into the church entrance through its large arched windows.

The Hospitaller monks – who, as you’ll remember, took control of the castle after the Templars – referred to it as the de profundis, a reference to the psalm traditionally sung at funerals. This suggests that the burial ceremonies for members of the order may have taken place here.

If you look closely at the gallery walls, you’ll notice painted white lines running along the joins between the stones. This is known as encintat – a decorative technique that, as well as adding aesthetic appeal, helped protect the walls from moisture and deterioration. You’ll find this kind of decoration in other parts of the castle too, such as the church interior and the treasury tower. The design follows a pattern of horizontal red lines and vertical black ones – the colours of the Templar habit. Did you know these colours also held symbolic meaning for the order? Black represented strength and courage; white, purity and chastity; and red, the blood of Christ.

To continue your visit, please make your way inside the church.

This church was the private chapel of the Miravet commandery, reserved for the Templar brothers who lived in the castle. They spent many hours here; the Templar rule prescribed up to eight daily services that set the rhythm of community life.

This space was not only a place of prayer, but also a symbol of power, spirituality and resistance in Miravet Castle.

he church consists of a single nave covered by a gently pointed barrel vault.

The interior is quite understated and receives only a small amount of natural light – just four windows and a rose window. The most striking window is in the apse at the east end. It’s known as the “Rising Sun” window, symbolising Christ’s resurrection. You might notice it’s slightly off-centre. That’s because the treasury tower behind it was built earlier, so the window had to be adjusted to fit around it.

The other windows are set into the north wall, and on the west side you can still see the remains of the rose window.

At the back of the church is a spiral staircase leading up to the terrace. You’re welcome to explore it later but do take care – it’s narrow and has seen better days.

If you look closely at the walls, you’ll see several consecration crosses inscribed within circles, positioned at about head height. These were part of the ritual to make the church suitable for divine worship. You’ll also find incised crosses about two metres above the floor, which were originally painted red.

If you want to see an original artefact from this convent chapel, you can visit the old village church of Miravet, now a museum. There you’ll find the 12th-century altar table that was once used right here.

To get a sense of how the church might have looked, check out the 3D reconstruction in the guide.

The ceremony to join the order took place here, in the church.

But becoming a Knight Templar was not for everyone. In addition to being soldiers, members took three monastic vows: poverty, obedience and chastity. To become a Knight Templar, a man first had to be knighted – a privilege reserved for the nobility.

The knights lived under the Templar Rule, originally composed of 76 articles which later expanded to nearly 700. Obedience was the most important vow, and disobedience could lead to punishment. Serious offences included betrayal of the order or Christianity, as well as homosexuality.

Relations with women were forbidden, but the penalty was only the loss of the habit. Article 53 of the Rule of the Templars reveals the order’s view of women – and, more broadly, that of medieval Christianity. It states: “The company of women is a dangerous thing, for by it the old Devil has led many from the straight path to paradise. Henceforth let not ladies be admitted as sisters to the House of the Temple.”

The initiation ceremony was a lengthy process. The candidate first accepted the vows and swore an oath. If no objections were raised, he was formally received – but with a clear warning: “We promise you bread and water, the humble clothing of the house, and much suffering and toil.”

In the semicircular apse to your left, you’ll see the sacristy, and at the far end a door leads to the treasury tower. This entrance is modern and closed to the public; during the Templar era, access was only possible through the commander’s chamber.

The treasury tower housed the money and most valuable possessions of the Miravet commandery. More significantly, it held the Provincial Treasure – the central archive for the Templar order in Catalonia and Aragon.

The wealth stored here gave the Templars power in three ways. Economically, it made them financially independent – even kings borrowed from them. Socially and politically, it allowed them to influence monarchs’ decisions. Symbolically and religiously, their riches funded the Holy War, legitimising them as defenders of the Christian faith.

By the early 14th century, this power had become inconvenient for Philip IV, King of France. He and the papacy conspired to bring down the order – cancelling debts owed to the Templars and seizing their wealth in the process.

The Pope persuaded King James II to lead the persecution of the Templars in Catalonia. However, the order’s castles resisted; Miravet became the last stronghold in the region, withstanding a year-long siege before finally surrendering.

In 1308, the castle fell to royal forces, and in 1312 Pope Clement V officially dissolved the order. All their properties, including Miravet Castle, were handed over to the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem.

After their dissolution, the Templars became the subject of myths and false legends. Their legacy was shaped – and at times distorted – with founding ideals attributed to them that do not always match historical reality. Nonetheless, these myths have influenced certain ways of thinking.

This concludes your guided tour. We hope you have enjoyed the visit and that it has helped you understand the castle’s layered history and its surroundings. You may now return to the courtyard. Beneath the gallery and church is a cellar that once stored barrels and wine presses in medieval times. You can still see the remains of a press here. This space offers a virtual reality experience for you to enjoy.