Ultramort: Architectural Heritage, Local History and Ter

Ultramort can be understood through its historic buildings, the development of its place name and its connection to the River Ter. If you are looking for a hotel in Ultramort, these offer a thematic starting point: you can explore the town’s architectural history, its settlement pattern and a cycling route focused on water engineering as distinct aspects.

Architectural heritage in manor houses and the church

Mas Castell de Gleu o de Finestres is a manor house from the 16th and 17th centuries, built on the site of the former Castle of Gleu and Finestres. It retains a central cylindrical defensive tower and part of another, rectangular tower. The complex is therefore described both as a manor house and as the site of an earlier castle. It was designated a Cultural Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985; today it is a Cultural Asset of National Interest.

Mas Davesa and Mas Pagès also feature distinct architectural details. Mas Davesa retains a 16th-century façade with inscriptions from the 16th and 17th centuries. In the upper section there is a Gothic window with arabesque ornamentation. The building thus brings together written records from two centuries and a window with its own decorative design.

Mas Pagès is a fortified manor house from the 17th century. Part of an older twin window of the Gothic-Renaissance type has also been preserved there. While the fortifications describe the character of the house, the window offers another perspective on its architectural history. The Church of Santa Eulàlia is considered an example of a simple Romanesque style with Cistercian influence, adding another architectural feature.

Local history and settlement pattern

The name Ultramort is documented as early as 1046 in the form ULTRAMORTE. A later historical reference dates to 1316, when Ultramort became part of the territory of Rupià Castle, which then belonged to the Bishops of Girona. The two dates point to different historical details—the early name of the town and a later territorial affiliation. Together, they provide a chronological framework for local history, though the two facts do not describe the same kind of connection.

The settlement pattern also offers a historical clue. Two long suburban areas, called Carrer de Torroella and Carrer de Figueres, extend north of the village. Their names point to the direction of two old roads. To get your bearings in the village, it is therefore useful to consider not only where these areas are, but also what their names reveal about the former routes.

The Ter and the cycling route

At the northern edge of the municipal area, the land extends to the River Ter. The area remains prone to flooding during rainy periods. This landscape feature concerns the northern edge of the municipal area and adds a specific characteristic of the surroundings to the historical themes.

The “El Ter: Waterways” cycling route passes through Ultramort. It follows the course of the Ter and showcases water-engineering heritage such as irrigation channels, weirs and mills. In this way, it connects the river with the history of the waterworks along its course. If you are planning to cycle the route, check its current course, as routes can change.

Discover more destinations: Salionç, Blanes, Garrigoles, Cervià De Ter, Saus, Camallera i Llampaies:Camallera, Banyoles, Bellcaire D'empordà, Cabanelles

For the broader travel overview: Girona.