Ferran between the Castell, Santa Maria and the Water Gardens

Ferran can be explored through three themes: the Castell de Ferran, the small church of Santa Maria, and the historic irrigation system of the gardens of Ferran and Tamarit. Together, they trace a path from the castle’s approximate medieval origins through a church dating from 1800 to a water infrastructure documented since at least the 14th century. If you choose a place to stay based on a destination’s cultural character, these buildings and the history of the Gaià offer specific points of interest.

Castell de Ferran: origins and building phases

The origins of the Castell de Ferran date back approximately to the 11th century, during the feudal expansion of the Catalan counties. The present-day Castell features several building phases, with Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance elements. It is helpful to distinguish between its origins and its present form: the 11th century marks its approximate beginnings, while the various stylistic elements show the building’s different phases. The Castell is privately owned and can be seen from the public road and the rural town centre.

Santa Maria among the neighbouring houses

The small church of Santa Maria de Ferran was built in 1800 and is nestled among neighbouring houses. A different part is visible from each street: from one street, you can see only the portal; from the parallel street, the apse and bell tower. The tower is octagonal, with four open sides and four closed sides. At Santa Maria, the church’s position within the surrounding houses and the precise design of the tower offer a different perspective on local history from the Castell’s building phases.

Water gardens and tunnels on the Gaià

The irrigation network carried water from the weir at Molí del Pas to the gardens of Ferran and Tamarit on the right bank of the Gaià. It included four underground water tunnels: the Mas de Marquès mine, 720 m long; the Mine de l’Yxart, 130 m long; and the Vallvé and Pau Segú mines, each 120 m long. At 720 m, the Mas de Marquès mine was the longest; Vallvé and Pau Segú were the same length. Remains of irrigation channels, mine entrances and some waterwheels have survived from the infrastructure.

The system has been documented since at least the 14th century. Under customary rules that remained in force until the mid-20th century, Ferran’s irrigators had access to the water day and night. The irrigation infrastructure later fell into disuse after the reservoir near El Catllar meant that the Gaià’s water no longer irrigated the gardens. The network’s history can thus be understood as a sequence of construction, regulated use and, later, the end of its irrigation function.

Circular route with Ferran in the title

The official circular route “La Móra - Tamarit - Riu Gaià - Ferran - El Mèdol” offers another point of reference. Ferran is explicitly named in the route title; the Barranc de la Mora is listed as the starting point. For travel planning, these are two separate details: the place name in the title and the named starting point of the route.

Discover more destinations: Sant Jaume Dels Domenys, Paüls, La Pobla De Montornès, Poblet, Poboleda, Gratallops, Renau, Pira.

Go to the main travel overview: Tarragona.