Sant Julià de la Cirera

Sant Julià de la Cirera is a cluster of medieval ruins — a parish church and an attached defensive tower — in the municipality of Sant Feliu Sasserra, in the Lluçanès area of Barcelona province. The site sits on a hillside next to the La Cirera farmhouse, surrounded by the fields and woodland typical of inland Catalonia, a short drive from the town centre.

What is the history behind the site?

The place-name La Cirera turns up in records as early as 952, when a woman named Fruio sold her son a plot of land bordering "vila La Cirera." A defensive tower here belonged, before the end of the 11th century, to the territorial holdings of Oristà castle, and in 1155 it is mentioned in the will of Ramon d'Olost. By 1198 the castle was in the hands of Pere de Lluçà, who nonetheless preserved the rights of the church of Vic. From then until at least the 14th century, the site stayed linked to the Lluçà family estate and to the neighbouring Quer castle. Its holders were knights bearing the surname Cirera or Sacirera, feudal vassals of the Lluçà lineage and the bishops of Vic.

The church, dedicated to Saint Julian, is documented from 1035, when the Lluçà family funded its construction or reconstruction. Sant Julià de la Cirera remained an independent parish until 1595, when it was absorbed into the parish of Sant Feliu. It is still recorded as a rural chapel in 1685, but fell out of use during the 18th century and was eventually abandoned.

What can you actually see today?

Of the church itself, only partly collapsed foundations remain — too damaged to allow even a reconstruction of the original floor plan. Far more visible is the round defensive tower, built in the 11th century and attached to the outbuildings of the La Cirera farmhouse. It measures 6.10 m across on the outside and 2.60 m on the inside, with walls 175 cm thick, and stands to a surviving height of 3.20 m. Builders raised it from stone blocks laid in horizontal courses roughly 13 cm high, bonded with lime-and-sand mortar. No window openings or traces of a former roof survive, there is a breach on the west side, and the south wall is partly broken down.

How do you get there?

The site is reached via the road linking the Bages area with Lluçanès, running through Avinyó and Sant Feliu Sasserra. Around kilometre 61 of that road, a dirt track branches off to the left toward the La Cirera farmhouse — from there the ruins are close by. Sturdy footwear helps, since the final stretch crosses open fields and unpaved ground.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with mild temperatures across the Lluçanès hills and green surroundings. Summers run hot and dry, while the dirt access track can turn muddy after winter rain. There is no visitor infrastructure on site — no signage, parking area, or information points — so a daytime visit is the practical choice.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sant Julià de la Cirera a church or a castle? It is two neighbouring structures: the ruins of an 11th-century parish church and the remains of the round tower of the former Sacirera castle, standing together next to the La Cirera farmhouse.

Can you still see the church ruins? Only partly collapsed foundations remain of the church building, and they are too damaged to reveal its original floor plan.

Who were the Cirera/Sacirera family? A lineage of knights who gave the castle its name. They were feudal vassals of the Lluçà family and the bishops of Vic, and controlled the area between the 12th and 14th centuries.

Is the site easy to reach? The final approach follows a dirt track branching off the main Bages–Lluçanès road around kilometre 61, so a suitable vehicle or a short walk on the last stretch is recommended.