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This is Meranges

Castle of Meranges

The castle of Meranges appears documented for the first time in a document of the second half of the 11th century, in the cartulary Liber feudorum maior. Between the years 1068 and 1095 the castellan Hug Dalmau, linked to the Mataplana linage, swore loyalty to the Count of La Cerdanya Guillem I. In the year 117, the county of La Cerdanya passed to Ramón Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona. The bond of the Mataplana family to this castle continued throughout the 12th century.

The rights over the village fell into the hands of the Viscounts of Castellbó.

In 1335, the King Jaume III of Mallorca regained full control over Meranges. The king had another castle built in the area of “Prat Sec” and commanded the villagers to rebuild the city in this place. It is ignored if this castle was built or only the foundations were made in the place called Clot del Castell.


Church of Meranges

Like many other churches in the region, this church is documented in the 10th century in the act of consecration of the Cathedral of Santa Maria d’Urgell.

The Cathar troops of Ramón Roger I of Foix and Arnau de Castellbó, in the 12th century plundered the church and stole forty wages to the pastor.

It consists of a single nave with a semi-circular apse and ogival arch vaults, a small window with carved relief motifs is opened in the central part of the apse and the remains of mural paintings depicting the Pantocrator can be seen inside the apse.

On the side of the epistle, two large arches that house some altars are found on the wall; in the centre of one of them, the date of “1690” and the name of “Vidal” are carved, which probably represents who defray the work.

The greatest reforms were made between the 17th and 18th centuries, building two chapels on the wall of the side of the gospel and proceeding to the lengthening of the nave towards the entrance door, which for this reason was moved to the same side of the chapels of the new building. The entrance door is protected under a portico where it can be read carved in a stone: Escobar 1725. In 1683, the bell tower was raised at the feet of the church, next to the original entrance.


Mill of Meranges

It is an old mill rebuilt between 2008 and 2010 that is currently a private home. The mill as a central body is accompanied by other smaller constructions, such as the hay loft or lean-to, which unlike the rest is in a dilapidated state.

They are two rectangular buildings that form the mill and the remains of the hayloft on the east side. In order to recover the building, the structure and the masonry walls were conserved.

The current finishes are made of wood and the peaked roof of modern materials.

In the lower part, the cavity of the mill wheel and two pointed arches are still kept in good conditions. After this, the ancient ditch that carried the water from the Duran River can also be seen. The catchment is located approximately 100 meters away. One of the millstones of this mill is located at the fountain situated 100 meters above the mill, following the track to Éller.