THE GRANDMA MEETS WITH ELI POPPINS IN MIRAVET

Eli Poppins and The Grandma in Miravet

What have in common Eli Poppins and The Grandma? Lots of things but mainly their passion for numbers, Science, stones and History. There's something that can unite all of these terms in one: The Knights Templars. 

Since Eli Poppins decided to live in Miravet, a small village in the Catalan county of La Ribera d'Ebre in Tarragona, The Grandma tries to visit her as many times as she can.

Today, The Grandma is in Miravet enjoying a wonderful day with Eli Poppins who is going to explain to us the History of this amazing place.

More information: Domus Templi

Miravet is a little village located in the middle of the Terres de l’Ebre, in the middle of a beautifull landscape between mountains, the River Ebro and a leafy bank forest. You can enjoy the view by crossing the river with the ferry.

Miravet i son Castell Templer by Leonardo di Ferrari.

Arriving in Miravet on the ferry that crosses the Riber Ebro, the last one of its type that has been conserved in the Terres de l’Ebre, is an unique experience. 

Today, of course, a medieval tax is no longer charged for the crossing, and though cars are now transported, the ferry still uses the river current as its only driving force.

Making use of a crag, the Moors decided to found the, nowadays, Old Village, and crowning the rock, the great castle, rebuilt by the Knights Templars and transformed into a fortress-monastery, after the conquest of 1153. 

More information: Catalonia-Valencia

It is considered to be the largest fortified complex in Catalonia, and one of the best examples of Romanesque, religious and military, architecture of the Templar order in the whole Western world. It keeps alive the memory of the end of the Knights at the Crown of Aragon, who suffered a 12 month siege, between 1307 and 1308.

Catalan painter Joaquim Mir in Miravet, 1929

The other architectural treasures are in the Old Village, the Old Church by the Hospital order, dating from the Renaissance and unique in its style throughout the Terres de l’Ebre, it conserves the original stone altar from the castle, the remains of wall paintings and somes expositions. In contrast to this, we find the Islamic Arch for the Aljama-mosque in the backside of the church, and the Sanaqueta balcony over the river.

The clay pottery, the most ancestral tradition that is conserved in Miravet and in the Terres de l’Ebre, has for centuries seduced visitors who came to this town, and can now be see in Miravet.

There are still eight workshops, which are located toghether in the Raval quarter. There masters can be found making pieces by hand and still using the potter’s wheel; with shapes and glazes introduced from the Islamic world, such as pitchers,vats and jars. 

Download The Military Orders in Catalonia

Don't forget to visit these places, then:

-The River Ebro and the landscapes.

-The traditional ferry crossing the river without motor.

-The Old village: dockyard, watermill, arcades, Aljama arch, Jewish street, watchtower and Sanaqueta balcony.

-The Old Church (XVI-XVII c.): nowadays, a cultural monument for concerts and exhibitions, temporary and permanent. You can visit it with a local guide from the Information Point.

-The Templar Castle (XII c.): a Government of Catalonia heritage site.

-Blores Route: following medieval paths through archaeological remains to the watermill.

-The potters workshops and the traditional pottery, in Raval Quarter.

Templar is truly a fearless knight, and secure on every side,
for his soul is protected by the armor of faith,
just as his body is protected by the armor of steel.
He is thus doubly armed and need fear neither demons nor men. 

AD 1135 by Bernard de Clairvax