We are going to show you a list of the medieval towns near our location, they are all in the province of Girona and near the Costa Brava, they are a good option to spend a different day admiring the architecture and history of the area and its historical and architectural heritage. They are an excellent option for alternative tourism to sun and beach.
We will name the most important towns and why in our opinion they are worth the visit.
Gerona
Gerona is the capital of the province and the most important city on this list, the beginnings of the population go back to Iberian settlements, but it was during Roman times when the city itself was founded, then known as “Gerunda”. If we visit the “barri vell” of Gerona we will glimpse the medieval past of the city.
The city saw how the influence of the Jewish community developed the architecture of the city, currently the old Jewish quarter, the “Jewish quarter of Girona” is among the best preserved in Europe.
Among the most outstanding architectural elements of medieval origin is the Cathedral of Santa María of Girona which, like many old constructions, has had several phases in its construction and has both Gothic and Baroque style constructions, as an anecdote we will say that a Game of thrones chapter was recorded on the steps of the cathedral.
The Arab baths is another small medieval jewel of Girona in Romanesque style. The building is built in different rooms in which you can find rooms with diferent watter temperatures going from colder waters to rooms with warmer water.
We can also highlight other elements such as the Basilica of Sant Feliu, which is even older than the Cathedral of Santa María itself.
Medieval walls are also a must see. There are several areas of the old quarter of the city through which you can go through the old walls following the walkways of the city.
Our recommendation is that you get lost in the streets of the old town and enjoy its beauty.
Besalú
Besalú is a town in La Garrotxa in the province of Gerona with a long history.
The first signs of population date back to1000 years before Christ with Iberian settlements.
Later it became an important urban center of the Roman Empire. But what is worth visiting the town now is for its medieval past.
It is difficult to find a town with so much history per square meter.
It is one of the best preserved medieval centers not only in the province of Girona but in all of Catalonia in the 60s it was already declared a “national artistic historical complex”.
It currently has a population of about 2,500 inhabitants. Among the most important monuments or medieval architectural we can find:
The Romanesque bridge is perhaps the most important element of the village and the best access to visit the old part of the town. It is a 105 meter long bridge with a tower.
Another essential element is the collegiate church of Santa Maria, it is a small chapel built before 1055.
The Monestir de Sant Pere a church temple founded in 977 by the bisbe Miro.
Other medieval elements of great importance in the town are the synagogue and the Micvé de Besalú. It is a Jewish bath discovered accidentally in the 60s while a house was being renovated.
It is the first building of these characteristics in all Spain and the third in all of Europe. It is an underground room built of stone with a pool that was filled with a natural water.
Its function was the purification of the soul. Women used it when they married after childbirths and after menstruation, and men did it once a week on Fridays they purified themselves by bathing in the pool.
We recommend the visit, currently it is a tourist town where you will find both accommodation and restaurant services.
Of the most beautiful cities on the list, we assure you that you will not regret your visit!
El port de la selva
The port of the selva is a small town in the alt empordá region.
El port de la selva is a small coastal town at the north of the Costa Brava. The first documented historical references about the population date back to 974 B.C Although there are also prehistoric signs of population.
We recommend you to enjoy its wide architectural cultural offer, especially from medieval times.
We can especially highlight the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes which was a Benedictine monastery in the old county of Empúries. It is classified as a “National asset of cultural interest“, it is a large complex consisting of a church, the cloister, the bell tower, the abbot’s palace and other monastic dependencies.
The monastery is built on several levels adapting to the uneven terrain and is located on the seafront and was the main cult center in the entire Empordà area.
The town also has other medieval buildings such as the Verdera Castle, a medieval fortification at the top of the Sierra de Rodes, or the old town of Santa Creu de Rodes, an old abandoned urban center a few kilometers from the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes.
Finally we can highlight the Sant Baldiri de Tavellera monastery.
Peratallada
Peratallada is located in Baix Empordà and very close to the beaches of the Costa Brava, it is a town that belongs to the historical-artistic complex and is a national cultural asset, it is also one of the most important medieval centers in the area and in Catalonia.
It is an old town fortified by three wall enclosures and by a ditch excavated in rock, it preserves narrow stone streets with an architectural beauty without equal. We recommend you to explore its streets that will transport you to another era.
The castle-palace The first documented evidences clarify its existence in the year 1065 but there are vestiges that suggest that it is even before that time, it has two clearly differentiated parts: the fortified part and the palace itself.
The fortified nucleus was part of the fortified structure of the population and fulfilled its defensive functions, it was comprised of the castle itself, located on a rock that elevates it.
The palace, made up of several buildings that surround a central courtyard, it is made in Gothic architecture.
Another important architectural element is the Church of Sant Esteve, a Romanesque temple with two naves.
In our opinion, the best part of a visit to Peratallada is to lose yourself in its stone narrow streets and its old town and have a drink or eat in the town’s main square, a small town with lots of charm.
Palau Sator
Palau Sator is a small village in the Baix Empordà very close to the main coves and beaches of the Costa Brava with a population of approximately 295 inhabitants.
It is a town with a medieval origin, we find the first evidence in documents from 878 about its castle in the middle of medieval times.
If you visit its old town you will notice the vestiges of the past with its stone houses and narrow streets.
Among the most recommended views we find the castle of Palau-Sator from the 10th century, the monastery of Sant Pau de Fonclara from the 11th century and the church of Sant Julià de Boada which is one of the best preserved pre-Romanesque churches in Catalonia.
Vulpellac
Vulpellac is a medieval complex that belongs to the town of Peratallada a few km away from it.
Vulpellac is considered a cultural asset of national interest as a historical site.
The old town preserves medieval characteristics, among its most notable architectural elements of medieval origin we find the church of Sant Julián and Santa Basilisa, it is a Gothic-style building and the castle-palace you can also see several remains of the old protection wall.
We recommend you take a walk through the streets of the old town, you wont regret it.
Monells
Monells is a small town that shares the town hall with Cruilles and Sant Sadurní de l’Heura. Between the three of them they have a population of about 1,300 inhabitants.
We find the first written records around the 10th century, the growth of the population took place around the castle of which there are no visible remains, although sections of the old medieval wall are preserved.
We recommend you to walk the streets of the town observing its architecture, its streets and its squares mainly in Gothic style, among the most remarkable architectural elements we can name the church of Sant Denis and its main square the Plaza Jaume I where we can appreciate the beautiful stone arches
As a curiosity we will say that the Plaza de Jaume is the commercial center of the town there we can find bars where we can take a break from visiting the town. It was one of the recording sites for the film “8 apellidos catalanes”.
Pals
Pals is a town on the Costa Brava in the province of Gerona.
It is a modern and tourist town but what we recommend related to this article is that you visit the old town.
The old town will transport you back to medieval times and you will be able to appreciate its history and beautiful architecture.
Among the elements of greatest interest we find the Romanesque tower known as “la torre de las hores”. We also recommend that you go to the main square where we will find the Gothic entrance arch to the walled enclosure, there you will also find the tourist office.
Other architectural elements of historical interest are the castle and the walls of Pals that date from approximately 889.
The church of Sant Pere is also over 1000 years old.
The “Ca la Pruna” house museum is a fortified museum house, it houses a small archaeological museum, as well as a replica of an 18th century pharmacy.
Peralada
The origins of Peralada go back to an Iberian town approximately in the year 500 BC.
Peralada is located in the “alt Empordà” and preserves different buildings from the medieval period, it is an eminently agricultural and wine-growing area, currently producing a great variety of wines under the Empordà D.O.
It has also a small population with less than 2000 inhabitants currently.
Among the most remarkable elements of medieval origin we find the Cloister of Sant Doménec dated in the 12th century, it is the most relevant architectural element of Romanesque origin in the population.
We also find the convent del Carme , a Gothic building from the XIII century, it has a library, a cloister and the church,
Finally, the most recognized building currently is the Peralada Castle, initially known as the Toló castle.
The first constructions date from the 9th century in 1285, the castle was destroyed during the invasion of the French, it was rebuilt during the 14th century and during the years it underwent several extensions, it was finally acquired by the Mateu family in 1923, a part of the castle is destined to the The casino, it is also the headquarters of the “Castell de Peralada wine cellar” and the international music festival of Peralada is celebrated there, during the festival, you can visit the castle gardens and it is a must-see for the town.
Castello d’Empuries
Castelló d’empuries is a town located in the upper Empordà in the north of the Costa Brava, the first documented evidence of the population dates at the year 879.
Castello d’empuries became an important town when the counts of Ampurias decided to move their place of residence to Castelló d’Empuries.
If you visit its streets in the old town, you will be transported back to medieval times, it was originally a walled protected city.
Its most outstanding monument is the Basilica of Santa María, it is the second most important religious monument in the province of Girona.
We also recommend “La Cúria and the prison” is a Gothic building that served as a court of law and prison.
Castell follit de la roca
Castell follit de la roca is one of the best known medieval towns in Gerona, it is located in La Garrotxa, it is a small town since it does not reach 1km square meters in extension
It is the second smallest town in Catalonia, its greatest attraction or uniqueness is that it is built on a cliff of more than 50 meters high .
One of the most recommended visits on the list. Visit its narrow streets of medieval origin built with volcanic rocks from the area, its best-known architectural element in Renaissance-style is the San Salvador church .
Beget
Beget is a in la Garrotxa, it is recognized as an architectural heritage of Catalonia. It has a population of about 20 residents, but many of its houses are second homes.
It has preserved its stone streets as well as its buildings also built of stone respecting the Romanesque architecture, the architectural structure of greatest interest is the San Cristóbal church , the clock tower and the bridge over the Trull river are also essential, although it was recently rebuilt as it was destroyed by a flood in the 30s.
As a curiosity we will say that it is within the top 11 of the most beautiful cities in Spain
We have already shown you 12 towns but here we show you another bonus one! enjoy it!
Santa Pau
Santa Pau is a town of medieval origin located in the Garrotxa in the province of Gerona with approximately 1500 inhabitants if we walk through its streets we can admire the vestiges of the past, we will see cobbled streets, stone constructions and Romanesque and Gothic arches especially in the main square.
It is a fortified town, the castle of Santa Pau stands out, which dates from approximately 1300 we can find within the castle a chapel dedicated to Sant Antonio Abad.
Other notable architectural elements are the Santa María church, and the main square center we can admire all its arches, it was the commercial center of the city and where the market was held.
With this we conclude our list of the most beautiful medieval towns in Girona and the surroundings of the Costa Brava, we hope you liked it!