The most beautiful villages on the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is rightly famed for its unspoiled coastal towns and villages but just a short distance inland from the coast there’s many Medieval villages waiting to be discovered. In this blog post we explore some of the most beautiful Costa Brava Medieval villages.
Medieval villages in the Baix Emporda
The Baix Emporda region of Girona is where some of the best beaches on the Costa Brava are to be found. The beaches of Begur and Palafrugell include Sa Riera, Sa Tuna, Aiguablava, Tamariu and Llafranc among others. Just a few kilometres inland from this stretch of coastline we find the well preserved villages of:
Peratallada, Pals, Monells and Palau Sator
These four villages are all located within the Baix Emporda “Golden Triangle”. Peratallada is the largest of the four and certainly one of the prettiest. With many cobbled streets to explore this village also has a good selection of restaurants open for lunches and dinners.
Like Pereatallada Pals also has a labyrinth of small streets and alleyways to explore and restaurants where to dine. Monells and Palau Sator are a little smaller but by no means less pretty and are equally worth a visit.
These well preserved Medieval villages on the Costa Brava are not far from each other and can be visited in one day. The architecture, the history and the narrow cobbled streets offer the traveler a glimpse of Medieval times gone by.
Medieval villages of La Garrotxa
La Garrotxa is a County a little further inland from the Costa Brava famed mainly for its extinct volcanoes. La Garrotxa also boasts beautiful Beech forests and of course Medieval villages. Perhaps the most well-known village in this region is Besalu. Famed for its photogenic 12th Century Romanic bridge the village was an important Medieval seat of power.
Also within the County of La Garrotxa is the Medieval village of Santa Pau. Santa Pau is located in the middle of the volcanic region and the beautiful Fageda Beech forest. Thanks to its fertile soil Santa Pau is famed for growing “mongetes” beans which are a staple in Catalan gastronomy.
Beget is a small village located further to the North in the neighboring County of Ripoles. This beautiful village is dominated by the Romanic San Cristóbal church and has a permanent population of only around 20 people.
Other Costa Brava Medieval villages
Further afield from the Costa Brava and worth a day-trip are the Medieval villages of Rupit and Tavertet. Tavertet sits on top of an escarpment enjoying breathtaking views of the Panta de Sau reservoir. The two villages are only 12 kilometres apart and a wonderful walk through forested countryside.
For more information about the Medieval villages of Girona and the Costa Brava take a look at the official Costa Brava website.
