Torre del Cucurull

Torre del Cucurull is a ruined medieval watchtower standing above Roda de Berà, a small coastal town on Catalonia's Costa Daurada. The ruin crowns El Cucurull, a hilltop within the Muntanya dels Molins range, and is listed as a Catalan Cultural Property of National Interest (Bé Cultural d'Interès Nacional).

What's the history behind the tower?

The tower is generally dated to the 10th century, a period when Catalan counties built chains of watchtowers along the coast to spot raids arriving by sea. Some researchers link Torre del Cucurull to a document from 1088 referring to fortifications in the area, while others argue it may have served as the main keep of the vanished castle of Roda. Centuries of exposure left the structure badly eroded, and in 2011 a conservation project shored up the walls to halt further decay and prevent collapse.

What will you see on site?

The tower has a circular ground plan. Its lowest three metres form a solid, near-massive base roughly 3.5 metres in diameter — a common defensive feature meant to resist undermining. Above that level the walls are 110 centimetres thick, enclosing an interior chamber about 200 centimetres across. Only this lower section survives in reasonable shape; the southern side is heavily damaged, and no trace remains of the original entrance, which — as in other towers of the period — would have been set more than six metres above ground level for defensive reasons.

The real draw, though, is the view rather than the ruin itself. From the summit, the surrounding countryside opens up, and to the south a substantial stretch of the Costa Daurada coastline comes into view — precisely the kind of vantage point the tower was built to exploit centuries ago.

How do you get to Torre del Cucurull?

The tower sits within the municipality of Roda de Berà, on the hills just above town. The local council has marked out a walking route to the summit via Coll del Repàs, one of the area's more popular short trails, combining a hillside walk with the viewpoint at the ruin. The climb typically takes under an hour and doesn't demand serious fitness, though sturdy shoes are worth wearing given the rocky ground.

When's the best time to go?

Since the summit offers no shade, spring, autumn, or early mornings in summer are the most comfortable choices — the exposed hilltop can get uncomfortably hot at midday. Autumn and winter often bring clearer air, improving visibility out toward the coast.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the tower? The ruin is partially collapsed and was stabilized during the 2011 conservation works, so visits are limited to the exterior and the immediate surroundings rather than the interior of the old structure.

How long is the hike to the top? The route marked by Roda de Berà council (Ruta 2: El Cucurull pel Coll del Repàs) is a short walk of well under an hour, manageable for most visitors.

What was Torre del Cucurull originally used for? Most likely a defensive watchtower guarding the coast against seaborne raids, though it may instead have been the keep of the former castle of Roda, whose other buildings have not survived.

Is it worth combining with a visit to Roda de Berà? Yes — the town sits right at the foot of the hill, so the walk up to the tower and its coastal view pairs easily with the rest of the town's sights in a single day.