Sant Ferran Castle in Figueres: a practical visitor's guide
Sant Ferran Castle (Castell de Sant Ferran) is the huge 18th-century fortress on the hill above Figueres. You can explore it on your own for €7 (free for under-10s) or join a guided boat tour of the underground cisterns or an electric-vehicle tour of the moat. It opens Tuesday to Sunday all year round, daily in July and August, and it is about a 20-minute walk from the town centre.
We are the hosts at Ca La Fustereta, a holiday rental on Carrer Pi i Margall, and this is the visit we suggest most often to guests who have already seen the Dalí Museum and want a reason to stay another day.
Updated 23/10/2026. Opening hours checked on the castle's official website (castelldesantferran.cat) and prices on ticketing.cat on the same day.
What is Sant Ferran Castle?
Work began in 1753 to a design by the military engineer Juan Martín Zermeño. The fortress was built to guard the border with France, which since the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659) has run along the Albera hills just north of the Empordà. It was named after King Ferdinand VI, and building went on until 1808. It is the largest 18th-century fortress in Europe: the site covers 32 hectares, with kilometres of tunnels and galleries underneath.
Below ground are four huge cisterns that can hold up to nine million litres of water, and from the highest points of the fortress you look out over the whole Alt Empordà plain.
The castle also played a part in more recent history. General Álvarez de Castro, who had defended Girona against Napoleon's troops, died here in 1810. On 1 February 1939, as the Republican side retreated towards the French border, it hosted the last session of the Republican Cortes (parliament) on Spanish soil. It was later a military prison until 1991 and opened to the public in 1997.
Sant Ferran Castle opening hours
| Season | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| July and August | Every day | 10:00–20:00 |
| April, May, June, September and October | Tuesday to Sunday (open on bank-holiday Mondays) | 10:00–18:00 |
| November to March | Tuesday to Sunday (open on bank-holiday Mondays) | 10:00–16:00 |
Last entry is one hour before closing. The castle is closed on 25 and 26 December and from 1 to 6 January. Outside July and August it is also closed on ordinary Mondays, which is worth knowing if you are planning a long weekend.
Hosts' tip: from November to March the castle closes at 16:00 and the last entry is at 15:00. In winter, go up in the morning and leave the museum or a stroll along La Rambla for the afternoon.
Sant Ferran Castle tours and ticket prices
Tickets are sold on ticketing.cat, which is where the official website sends you. The self-guided visit does not need to be booked in advance; the guided tours do, as places are limited.
| Tour | What it includes | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-guided visit | Inner enclosure with a leaflet and audio via QR codes, 14 stops | At your own pace | €7 · under-10s free |
| The Water Cathedral (cisterns) | Guided inflatable-boat trip through one of the four cisterns, maximum 10 people. Includes the self-guided visit | 30 min | €12 · under-5s free |
| Secrets of the Moat | Flat route of nearly 3 km by electric vehicle with a guide, including the counter-mines. Includes the self-guided visit | 1 h | €12 · under-5s free (on an adult's lap) |
| Moat + cisterns | Both guided tours at a discount | 1 h 30 min | €20 |
| Empordà 360 | The highest parts of the fortress on the "mules", two-seater electric quads | 1 h | €40 (1 person) · €50 (2 people) |
The highlight is the cistern tour, which the castle calls "the Water Cathedral": you float through the underground reservoir by boat while the guide explains how water was stored for the garrison. It is an enclosed space and there is little room to move in the boats, so if you are claustrophobic or have limited mobility, ask the staff before you book.
The audio guide for the self-guided visit is available in English, Catalan, Spanish and French, and you can also play it from the official website. The castle also runs seasonal events, such as "Cel d'hivern", a guided look at the winter constellations from the parade ground with a tasting included (€15), and storytelling for young children, so check the programme before you visit.
How to walk to Sant Ferran Castle from the centre
The castle sits on the hill on the north-west side of town, at the top of Pujada del Castell. From Ca La Fustereta it is about 1.5 km, roughly a 20-minute walk with an uphill final stretch. From the Dalí Theatre-Museum, allow about 10 minutes (approx. 750 m).
By car it is about 5 minutes, but you do not need to drive: every guest at Ca La Fustereta gets a private garage space included, so you can leave the car there and see the whole town on foot. If you come by train from Barcelona, Figueres town station (R11 regional line) is right in the centre, and the high-speed station, Figueres-Vilafant, is about 10 minutes away by car.
Visiting Sant Ferran Castle with kids
It is an easy win for families: room to run, bastions to explore and a boat ride underground, which is what children remember most.
If you are travelling with children, La Casa Gran, a self-catering family rental for up to 8 guests, has four bedrooms (two double beds and two bunk beds), two bathrooms, a full kitchen, a washing machine and a private terrace with a barbecue. We can provide cots and baby equipment on request, and there is a play area.
Combining the castle with the Dalí Museum and the rest of Figueres
Pujada del Castell starts a few minutes from the museum, so the castle pairs well with the Dalí Theatre-Museum on the same day: one in the morning, the other in the afternoon, with lunch in between. For a full plan including La Rambla and the market, see Figueres in a day, and for more ideas, our guide to things to do in Figueres.
For couples, the Apartment for two with a private sun terrace is a 3-minute walk from La Rambla. Groups of up to 10 can rent the whole building with five bedrooms, and if you want a base for exploring the region, have a look at our guide to accommodation in the Alt Empordà.
Sant Ferran Castle FAQ
How much does it cost to visit Sant Ferran Castle?
The self-guided visit costs €7 and is free for children under 10. The boat tour of the cisterns and the electric-vehicle moat tour cost €12 each (both include the self-guided visit), and a pack with both is €20. Prices checked on ticketing.cat on 23/10/2026.
Do I need to book the boat tour of the cisterns?
Yes. Guided tours are booked on ticketing.cat and places are limited: each boat takes a maximum of 10 people. The self-guided visit does not need to be booked in advance.
When is Sant Ferran Castle open?
In July and August, every day from 10:00 to 20:00. The rest of the year, Tuesday to Sunday and on bank-holiday Mondays: 10:00–18:00 from April to October and 10:00–16:00 from November to March. Closed on 25 and 26 December and from 1 to 6 January.
How long do you need at the castle?
If you do the self-guided visit plus the boat (30 minutes) and the moat tour (1 hour), allow half a day.
Can you walk to the castle from the centre of Figueres?
Yes. It is about 10 minutes from the Dalí Theatre-Museum and about 20 minutes from Ca La Fustereta, with an uphill final stretch.
Looking for where to stay in Figueres? Ca La Fustereta is in the centre, 5 minutes from the Dalí Museum, with a garage included.