Excursion through the medieval villages of l'Empordà and Banyoles Lake

Description

The excursion begins with a visit to the spectacular mediaeval town of Besalú, declared a National Historic and Artistic Site in 1966, and its Old Bridge over the river Fluvià, which provides access to the town and at the same time takes us back in time. The town also has a unique Jewish heritage site in Catalonia, such as the "Mikve", one of the most important Jewish baths in Europe, and the remains of an ancient synagogue from the 13th century. We will then visit Castellfollit de la Roca, a medieval village of hanging houses built on top of a basalt wall, on the edge of the cliff, which has become one of the most photographed and painted images of Catalonia. We will continue our excursion to the village of Santa Pau, which, in addition to its typically mediaeval appearance (with walls, irregular streets and evocative corners), has buildings of remarkable architectural value, despite the fact that the main virtues of the site are the dominant austerity and the practical and functional character revealed by the stones. The town of Santa Pau was declared a National Historic and Artistic Site in 1971. To finish our excursion, we will go to Banyoles Lake, classified as the largest inland body of water in Catalonia, and with a high landscape value. It is the second largest natural lake in the Iberian Peninsula and is popularly associated with many legends, which we will learn about during a stroll around the surrounding area.