Castell Ferran

Castell Ferran is a small watchtower perched on the summit of Castellferran hill, in the municipality of el Bruc, in the Anoia comarca of Barcelona province. Sitting on the western side of the Montserrat massif, it is a modest structure, but it draws hikers who are following the trails around Catalonia's iconic mountain and want to trace a bit of its lesser-known military past.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The tower stands at roughly 790 metres above sea level, on a summit built of the same conglomerate rock that gives the whole Montserrat massif its distinctive look. The easiest approach starts either at the Can Maçana estate or at the cemetery by the Sant Pau de la Guàrdia chapel, from where a wide, well-marked track leads up to the tower in about twenty minutes on foot. The route is popular with people exploring the western flank of Montserrat, and the summit often serves as a waypoint on longer hikes linking several towers and viewpoints scattered across the area.

What does the tower look like?

Castell Ferran is a two-storey tower built on a square floor plan, constructed from stone and brick. A low defensive wall surrounds it, marking out what was once a small fortified yard. The roof — originally a simple two-sided pitched design — has since disappeared, leaving the interior exposed to the elements. Even so, the walls still show loopholes set at two different heights, built in brick, and inside you can still spot fragments of the original timber beams along with traces of lime plaster on the walls. These surviving details are enough to picture the tower's original layout: a plain, functional structure built with a clearly military purpose in mind.

What is its history?

The tower was built in the 19th century and most likely served a defensive role during the Carlist Wars, a period when Catalonia was caught up in the conflict over succession to the Spanish throne. It was later repurposed as a station in an optical telegraph network linking Barcelona with Manresa and Solsona, and through that line, indirectly, with the route toward Lleida. From here, signals were relayed to the neighboring tower at Can Dolcet, in nearby Collbató. The Can Maçana estate close by was also fortified around the same era — its defenses are already recorded as early as 1836, which suggests this stretch of the Montserrat foothills held real strategic value at the time. On the far side of the hill, above Can Maçana, stands another separate defensive structure, Castell de la Guàrdia, a sign of just how closely this part of the massif was once watched and defended.

What condition is it in today?

Time and weather have taken a real toll on the tower: the roof is gone and parts of the stonework have eroded. Even so, the site remains open and can be visited freely, though care is advised when moving around the remaining walls. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to make the trip, when temperatures in this part of Catalonia are mild enough for a comfortable walk and the views over the valley and the surrounding Montserrat peaks are at their clearest.

Frequently asked questions

What was Castell Ferran used for? It was a 19th-century watchtower, likely used during the Carlist Wars and later as a station in an optical telegraph line connecting Barcelona with Manresa, Solsona, and Lleida.

Where exactly is it located? On the summit of Castellferran hill (about 790 metres above sea level), in the municipality of el Bruc, Anoia comarca, on the western side of the Montserrat massif.

What does the structure look like? A two-storey, square-plan tower built of stone and brick, surrounded by a low wall, with loopholes at two levels; the original roof no longer survives.

How do you reach the tower? On foot, in around twenty minutes, from either Can Maçana or the cemetery near Sant Pau de la Guàrdia, following a wide track used by hikers exploring the western side of Montserrat.