Besalú
 

1/2 Day

Besalú, in the province of Girona, is a monumental example of the Catalan Middle Ages. Located in the region of La Garrotxa, the town is only steps away from the spectacular scenery of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa Nature Reserve, on the last spurs of the eastern section of the Pyrenees of Girona.

Cobbled streets and façades are the most distinguishable feature of the city centre, as can be seen in many spots. The rich medieval legacy brings the visitor closer to both religious and civil constructions, and to the vestiges of a Sephardic quarter that used to exist in this town during the Middle Ages. Civil architecture works include the 12th-century Romanesque bridge that crosses the Fluvià river; the building of Cùria Real, devoted to law enforcement; and the residence of Cornellà, with a great Romanesque arcaded gallery. Among religious monuments, we must point out the churches of Sant Pere, Santa María, and Sant Vicenç, alternating Romanesque and Gothic elements. Also worthy of note is the lavish ornamentation of the church of Sant Julià (17th century). In addition, in the Jewish quarter we can visit medieval public baths that were devoted to Hebrew ritual ablutions.


Besalú is a town in the Garrotxa region, located at 150 metre above sea level, covering an area of 4.81 km2. Bisuldunum, as its origins suggest, was a fortress between two rivers: the Fluvià in the south and the Capellades in the north. Well communicated, Besalú is located at the meeting point of three regions: Alt Empordà, Pla de l'estany and Garrotxa. Besalú began to gain importance as the capital of an independent county following the death of Guifré el Pilós (902); It lost this status with the death of Bernat III- son-in-law of Ramon Berenguer III- leaving no suvirvors. As a result, Besalú became part of Barcelona. In 1966, it was declared a "National Historic-Artistic Ensemble" due to its high architectural value.

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