Castell de Figuerola de Meià

Castell de Figuerola de Meià is a lone medieval defensive tower rising above the abandoned village of Figuerola de Meià, part of the municipality of Camarasa in the Noguera region, deep in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees. Sitting at roughly 762 metres above sea level, at the foot of the path linking the Doll road with the Meià valley, the site today draws mainly hikers and enthusiasts of deserted villages and medieval military architecture.

What will you see there?

Of the original defensive complex, only a rectangular, slightly irregular tower survives, standing about 13 metres tall and originally divided into four storeys. Its walls were built from neat courses of stone blocks, pierced by small arrow slits. The upper section shows traces of later repairs carried out in opus spicatum technique, the distinctive herringbone stone pattern. Locally the tower is known as the Torre de la Inquisición (Inquisition Tower), though the name has no documented historical link to actual inquisitorial activity — it is more likely a folk label attached to a mysterious, abandoned structure over time. The tower's condition is poor: the surrounding area is largely in ruins, made up of the collapsed houses of the old village, and access to the tower itself is sometimes restricted for safety reasons.

What is the history behind it?

The earliest records of Figuerola date back to 1040, when a man named Company and his wife Guilla donated the tithes of the area to the monastery of Santa Maria de Meià. From 1094 onward, the monastery steadily expanded its rights over the settlement, and the sacramental will of Guitard Guillem de Meià later left a quarter share of Figuerola to the religious community. The castle itself was held in fief by Ramon Berenguer d'Àger, who in 1141 entrusted its administration to Pere Arnau de Puig. Ownership rights continued to shift over the following decades: in 1243 the monastery bought out the rights of Berenguera de Fontllonga and her son Guillem d'Oliola, and in 1264 Ròmia, daughter of Ramon de Fontllonga, handed over to the monastery all her remaining rights and property connected to the town and castle. Through these transactions, the monastery of Santa Maria de Meià became the effective feudal lord of Figuerola — a status that set this castle apart from most other strongholds in the Meià valley, since it never became part of the marquesat de Camarasa and instead remained under ecclesiastical rule until its defensive role faded.

Beyond the tower itself, the area around the old village is also home to the church of Santa Eulàlia, a building of medieval origin standing outside the former settlement. It served as the parish church until the 16th century, when it was downgraded to a perpetual vicariate dependent on the parish of Fontllonga.

How to get there and when to visit?

Figuerola de Meià sits in rugged, hard-to-reach terrain within the municipality of Camarasa, so a car and a drive along local roads deep into the Meià valley are needed to reach it. Given the elevation (762 m) and the rocky character of the surroundings, spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to visit, with mild temperatures ideal for walking the paths around the village. Summers bring the heat typical of inland Catalonia, while winter can bring snowfall to the higher ground nearby. Finally abandoned during the 1970s, the village today has only a handful of permanent residents, making it one of the many so-called pobles abandonats (abandoned villages) that dot this part of Catalonia.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the castle tower? The tower is in very poor structural condition and access is sometimes closed for safety reasons — it's best to admire it from outside and stay cautious around the surrounding ruins.

Why is the tower called the Inquisition Tower? It's a local, folk nickname attached to the structure; there is no documented historical evidence tying it to actual inquisitorial activity.

Does anyone still live in Figuerola de Meià? The village was effectively abandoned during the 1970s and today counts only a few remaining residents.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Close to the old settlement stands the medieval church of Santa Eulàlia, and the access route itself winds through the scenic Meià valley, a popular area for hikers.