Its
historic past and the medieval heritage it has preserved make
Besalú the medieval town par excellence. A stroll through its streets is an experience that
transports you back in time to the medieval period when Besalú was the
capital of the county of La Garrotxa. Much has survived since those times and should not be missed, such as the church that once formed part of the
Sant Pere de Besalú monastery. The church is the only surviving element of that monastery, founded in 977 by Miró Bonfill, who was both count and bishop. Outstanding features of the church are the
capitals of the ambulatory pillars with their vegetable and figurative motifs scenes, such as those depicting David in the lion's den, Herod receiving counsel from the devil and the Slaughter of the Innocents.
Besalú also has one of the best medieval
Jewish quarters in Catalonia, and a
guided tour can lead you through it. The
mikvé is of particular interest, being one of the few
Jewish ritual baths to have survived in our country. Also well worth visiting are the
former pilgrims' hospital, the Casa Cornellà, the church of Sant Vicenç and the Gothic hall in the
Palace of the Curia Real. Above all, however, the
Pont Vell, Besalú's old bridge, is the symbol of the town. It is noteworthy on account of its size and its position at a right angle over the river. The oldest document in which it is mentioned dates from 1075, however, its present appearance is due to it having been reconstructed in the 1960s.
To the north of Besalú lies the
small town of Beuda. You can explore its heritage through the Town Council's
Rodamons per Beuda ('Roaming Through Beuda')
route. The route is designed to be followed by car and is suitable for all ages. It includes the most notable
Romanesque works in the neighbouring
Lligordà, Palera and Segueró, such as the churches of
Sant Feliu, Sant Pere de Lligordà, Santa Maria de Palera, Sant Sepulcre de Palera, Santa Maria de Segueró and
Beuda castle. The church of Santa Maria de Segueró, for example, has a
splendid polychrome Gothic carving in alabaster of the Virgin Mary with child, while the church of Sant Feliu has a
large baptismal font decorated with motifs depicting sin. The map of the route with QR links, proposed games and various curiosities is included in the
knapsack that can be collected from the rural houses in Beuda and from
Besalú tourist office.
An excursion proposed in collaboration with the magazine
Descobrir.
