Our Region

Located just minutes from the Clos Maria estate is the mystical town of Siurana, a jewel with history and intrigue. Siurana offers some stunning views from the cliff top rock known as La Trona and the climbing routes in this area are world famous. Siurana also conserves remains of the Arab castle, a military establishment or “hisn” built around the 9th century as a centre to control the territory. It was part of a large area under Muslim domination, and this strategically-placed fortification guarded the way into the village. Currently visible are the results of a first phase of renovation, which has left its boundaries clearly visible, together with the defensive towers and other features. The conquest of this castle by Ramon Berenguer IV was planned before those of Tortosa and Lleida, but was not achieved until 1153 or 1154.

After its fall, Siurana passed to the hands of Bertran de Castellet and then Albert de Castellvell. The village served as a dowry for Catalan queens and to guarantee pacts and loans and then, even as a prison for people of some importance. The Salt de la Reina Mora, or Moorish Queen’s Leap, is a section of cliff which is named for the legend of Abdelazia, daughter of the Wali of Siurana, who when the Christian troops broke in, preferred to cast herself off the cliff on her horse rather than fall into enemy hands. When the horse saw the dizzying cliff it tried to stop, but its momentum carried it over the edge. Today, at the edge of the cliff, one can see the deep mark made by the animal’s horseshoe in the rock itself as it tried to stop.