Three medieval
treasures on the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava, in addition to the beauty of the natural
surroundings, possesses an abundance of cultural heritage with medieval art
featuring amongst the most impressive. A large amount of medieval remains hide
amongst the green mountains and towns on the Costa Brava.
Here are some of them:
BESALÚ – A
small distance away from Figueres is a town with one of the largest ensemble of
medieval monuments and remains in Catalonia.
From the moment you cross its iconic deck bridge, you will be immediately
enchanted by the town. Its winding streets and ancient stone will take you all
the way back to medieval times.
Although
every little corner of Besalú is a masterpiece, we recommend that after
crossing the 11th-12th century bridge you don’t miss out
on some of the most iconic examples of medieval architecture such as the monastery
of Sant Pere, the ancient pilgrims’ hospital and the Sant Vicenç church. You
should definitely visit the Jewish quarter and the micvé, the only Jewish baths
uncovered on the Iberian Peninsula.
And whilst
you’re in Besalú, you should try ratafia, a typical liqueur of the area flavoured
with lemon peel, herbs in various amounts including nutmeg, cinnamon, and herbs
and aromatic spices.
SANT PERE DE RODES – Situated
in the heart of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, the monastery of Sant Pere de
Rodes stands majestically on the mountain top, from where you can admire some
magnificent views of the blue waters in Llança
Bay and the town Port
de la Selva.
With its 12th
century cloister, belfry and defence tower, this Benedictine monastery is
considered one of the main exponents of medieval remains in Catalonia.
It dates
back to 1 AD and is shrouded in legend related to the relics of Saint Peter the
Apostle. It was running up until the 18th century when fell into
disuse and all of its sculptures, reliefs and valuable objects were
subsequently pillaged. However, the beauty of the monastery’s architecture and
the magnificent views on offer are reason enough to visit it.
PERALADA – The
most striking monument in Perelada is, without a doubt, the castle. Dating back
to the 18th century, although it has undergone diverse reforms, it
has two enormous towers, battlements and surrounding gardens. It is situated in
the heart of the city centre and currently hosts an elegant casino and
restaurant. In addition, every summer the Castell de Peralada music festival is
held there.
In addition
to the castle, the town has a well-preserved historical district and several
medieval buildings including the medieval cloister Sant Domènec with its beautiful
architectural capitals and the Sant Martí church. You should also definitely
visit the Convent of Carmen. The convent houses the Castle Museum
and an impressive library home to more than 8,000 volumes with numerous incunables,
manuscripts, unique and rare copies and a Cervantes collection with more than
100 editions of Don Quixote. Great for book lovers.
Laura - Marketing Team