Iberian city of Ullastret | Cultural Heritage. Goverment of Catalonia.
Iberian city of Ullastret The oppidum of the 'embedded heads'

Perched in the Puig de Sant Andreu, in the Baix Empordà, the Iberian town of Ullastret is the largest Iberian settlement discovered so far in Catalonia. The city, flanked by towering walls, served as the capital of all the indiketa territory, which exploited agriculture, livestock farming, mines and quarries. It was the centre of an important commercial interchange with the Greek city of Empúries, which exported its products and also imported foreign production. Ullastret dominates the landscape of the Empordà and has been testimony to one of the most important archaeological finds of recent years: that of the severed heads of Ullastret.

This exceptional discovery was made in the year 2012, when the excavations in a stretch of the street uncovered 15 human cranial fragments, among which were two embedded heads. It is a ritual of Celtic origin which had already been described by classical authors such as Posidonius of Apamea or Diodorus of Sicily, and which consisted of displaying the heads of the defeated enemy as trophies of war.

Although the Ullastret complex consists of two Iberian villages, it is only the ruins of Puig de Sant Andreu, which are visitable, corresponding to the last stage of occupation of the town by the indiketes (3rd century BC). The route allows you to view the largest and oldest muralla ibèrica in Catalonia, reinforced with six circular towers.

Visitors can ‘enter’ the rectangular houses, from the most modest up to the constructions made for the most important families of the Iber aristocracy, walk down the cobbled street and discovered the water collection system using cisterns in the rock, a copy of those still existing in the Greek colony in Empúries. The spiritual life of the ancient inhabitants of Ullastret has left its mark with the remains of three temples, from the 4th and the 3rd century BC. The complex is completed with the Ullastret Monographic Museum, which allows interpretation of the site and also to find out about the Iberian culture in the north-east of Catalonia. The Ullastret complex is one of the branches of the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia.

Plan your visit

What can I do?

Do not miss out on the organised activities, workshops and visits to the Ullastret complex which allows you to find out what life was like for the Iberians.

Services
Event hire
Timetables

From 1st October to 31st May
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm 
Closed on Mondays

From 1st June to 30th September
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm
Closed on Mondays

Easter Holy Week: summer opening hours

Closed:  1st and 6th January, 25th and 26th December

Prices
The price includes a visit to the archaeological site and museum audio guide for individual public.

General ticket: €5

Reduced ticket: €3
People aged 65 or more, pensioners, the holders of the Youth Card, students with International Student Card, those possessing the large family or parent, no tourist groups of 10 or more people by appointment. If this is a group where some members are entitled to free entry can continue to enjoy this reduction

Free:
Persons under 16 years, the unemployed, the members of ICOM (International Council of Museums) and ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments), duly accredited, the members of the Association of Museum of Catalonia duly accredited, those professional tour guides, duly accredited, people of formal education teachers accredited by the management of the school in carrying out their work, the press duly accredited professionals, in the exercise of their work, have communicated in writing their visit, people with disability certificate, the host families duly accredited, groups of students (students in the educational system of the general system, from kindergarten to high school, vocational training and through special education teacher) who have reservation (except mNACTEC)


Activities for groups:

Guided visit:

  • Tourists and school groups : € 3.60 per person (minimum 20 people)
Theatrical tour:
  • Tourists and school groups : € 4.10 per person (minimum 20 people)
Advanced booking essential

Special prices for agencies.

More information and reservations:  tel. 972 17 90 58 | macullastret.cultura@gencat.cat

 

Contact

MAC Ullastret
Afores s/n
Puig de Sant Andreu
17114 Ullastret
Tel. (+34) 972179058

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