Travel back in time to discover medieval Catalan villages. We'll see the volcanic lands of La Garrocha and visit four towns: Vic, Besalú, Santa Pau and Castellfollit de la Roca.
Garrotxa Medieval Towns Tour
Between 8:30 am and 9:30 am, we'll pick you up from your hotel in Barcelona and start the tour with a panoramic drive around Plaça Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia. On board the minibus, we'll see Gaudí's signature buildings, such as Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, as we drive away from the city centre.
After an hour's drive, we'll arrive in Vic, our first stop on the tour. Accompanied by our guide, we'll discover the town's fascinating medieval past. We'll learn about how key events shaped the town, like the Saracen invasion of the 9th century. We'll see the exteriors of monuments such as the Cathedral, the Episcopal Palace, and a Roman temple.
Before returning to the minibus, we'll leave you with an hour of free time to recharge your batteries with the delicious cuisine of Vic.
We'll continue the excursion through the volcanic lands of the Natural Park of La Garrocha to reach Santa Pau. We'll enjoy a guided tour of this charming medieval village. The origin of this town dates all the way back to the 13th century.
Our next stop will be another of the inland villages of the Costa Brava, Castellfollit de la Roca. The origin of the name of this village comes from its location on top of a large basalt hill. Strolling through its narrow streets, we'll come to the church of Sant Salvador, where you'll find a viewpoint with incredible views of the mountains of the area and the river Fluvià.
Next, we'll head to our last destination of the day, Besal, which has one of the best-preserved medieval ensembles in Catalonia. We'll visit its historic centre, declared a National Historic and Artistic Monument, and admire its most important buildings, such as the medieval bridge and the monastery of Sant Pere. We'll also learn about the legacy left in the village by the Jewish community that lived here between the 9th and 15th centuries.
We'll finish the excursion by dropping you off at your hotel between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm.