Castell-molí de Ratera

Castell-molí de Ratera is a remarkable hybrid fortress-mill located in Els Plans de Sió, Segarra, combining medieval military architecture with 16th-century industrial adaptation. Originally built as a defensive castle in the 11th century under the barony of Concabella, it was transformed during the 16th century by the Erill family into a functioning flour mill utilizing the Sió River's waters. The structure features two prismatic stone bodies flanking a cylindrical tower with an interior spiral staircase, constructed from well-dressed aligned stone blocks. Mid-20th-century restoration work by architect Joaquim Vilaseca preserved and partially reconstructed the medieval aesthetic. The site remains privately owned and is designated as a cultural property of national interest.