Medieval villages of the Empordà: walk from Monells to Cruïlles

• Past Excursions

DATE: March 25th at 8.30h

Enjoy a very pleasant and flat walk through the so-called Catalan Tuscany that combines beautiful medieval villages and beautiful scenery.

A nice and easy excursion to discover the interior of Baix Empordà, Josep Pla’s homeland and one of the most beautiful areas of Catalonia. This time we will visit and walk from Monells to La Bisbal (capital of the region) through Cruïlles. Beautiful medieval villages, little known and located in an area of great scenic beauty.

The route allows us to go from the plain to the first buttresses of the Gavarres massif, through a wonderful shady valley. In addition, this itinerary combines heritage and cultural elements of the first order: the old towns of Monells, Cruïlles and La Bisbal, the Romanesque church of Sant Joan de Salellas, the hydraulic complex of the Molí d’en Frigola…

– MONELLS
Monells is a small medieval village, with a lot of charm and a beautiful arcaded central square. The village is built around its ancient castle (although only the walls remain). Its identity is so “authentic” that the producers of “Ocho apellidos catalanes” decided to shoot some scenes here.

– CRUÏLLES
Located to the left of the Daró river, it was the origin of the Cruilles lineage and barony. It is a beautiful small medieval village that still preserves the keep of the old castle in the center of the square and the church of Santa Eulalia, with Romanesque paintings, a Gothic altarpiece and belonged to the nearby monastery of Sant Miquel de Cruïlles.

LA BISBAL DE L’EMPORDÀ, CATALAN CAPITAL OF CERAMICS
La Bisbal de l’Empordà is the capital of the region. The city preserves a very beautiful medieval nucleus in which the Jewish quarter stands out, with its zigzag streets; the castle-palace, an extraordinary example of the Catalan civil Romanesque; the baroque church of Santa Maria; beautiful modernist buildings, etc

THE PLAN

8.30h: We meet at Plaça Universitat (at the main entrance of the University of Barcelona) to catch our private bus. We stop at Hostalric for breakfast.

11h: Arrival in Monells, historical-geographical introduction and guided tour of the town.

11.30-15h: Excursion on foot through flat and easy paths to Sant Sadurní de l’Heura, Sant Joan de Salellas, Cruïlles and La Bisbal.

15-17h: Free time to eat in La Bisbal

17-18h: Guided walk through La Bisbal and some time to look at the ceramic shops

18h: Return bus, arriving in Barcelona around 8:00 p.m.

ACCOMPANYING GUIDE: Toni Bellido
LANGUAGES: Spanish and Catalan (if you need additional explanations in English there is no problem)

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE HIKE:

LEVEL: Easy (it is a flat trail with very little gradient).
TOTAL DISTANCE: 12km approx.

If the weather forecast is very bad, the hike will be postponed.

DATE: March 25, 2023