Visit Besalú + Castellfollit de la Roca and enjoy the Banyoles lake

• Past Excursions

DATE: July 1 at 8 a.m.

A very complete excursion that includes a guided tour in Besalú; a brief tour of Castellfollit de la Roca to photograph it from its famous bridge; and plenty of free time to eat and enjoy Banyoles Lake, the most beautiful lake in Catalonia.

– Stop at Castellfollit de la Roca to photograph it from its bridge

The spectacular location of Castelfollit makes it a magnificent natural viewpoint from which you can contemplate the valleys of the Fluvià and Toronell rivers. The municipality is also the gateway to one of the most important green spaces in Catalonia: the natural park of the volcanic area of La Garrotxa. On top of an immense basalt cliff, the silhouette of the town of Castellfollit is drawn, with the houses touching the edge of the precipice and the bell tower of the church of Sant Salvador (13th century). This is one of the most captured and painted images in the country.

– Guided tour in Besalú

The town of Besalú, located at an important and traditional crossroads to the east of La Garrotxa. It was a fortress between two rivers: the Fluvià, to the south, and the Capellades, to the north. For several centuries, Besalú was the seat of an important independent county and has a formidable medieval historical-artistic complex, one of the best preserved in Catalonia. The old church of the monastery of Sant Pere from the 12th century forms part of this complex; the church of Sant Vicenç from the 12th century; the façade of the old church of the Sant Julià hospital from the 12th century; the Cornellà house, a Romanesque monument from the 12th century and the Gothic room of the Cúria Real. Also noteworthy is the old Jewish quarter and its Miqvé or ritual bathhouse, which is, along with Girona’s, the only Jewish bathing complex discovered so far in the Iberian Peninsula. And that without forgetting the majestic Romanesque bridge over the Fluvià river.

– Free time to eat and enjoy the Banyoles lake and its beach

After visiting Besalú, we will go to Banyoles, where we will have a lot of free time to eat (you can have a picnic or go to a restaurant) and enjoy the lake, the most beautiful in Catalonia (with permission from Lake Puigcerd). In the lake you can do many activities: bathe (there is a beach enabled for bathing); sail in a boat; stroll along the shore; or sit on a bench and gaze at the majestic lake and its beautiful surroundings.

Summary and main attractions of the excursion:

1- Guided tour in Besalú, one of the most beautiful towns in Catalonia

2- Stop to photograph Castellfollit de la Roca, one of the most photogenic towns in Catalonia

3- Free time to enjoy Banyoles lake: bathe on its beach; sail in a boat; walk along its shore, etc.

DATES: July 1, 2023

ACCOMPANYING GUIDE: Toni Bellido (official guide of Barcelona and Catalonia)

LANGUAGE: Spanish and/or Catalan