Besalú
A medieval town inland from Girona. Its seven-arched bridge with a bent line spans the Fluvià river, and the old town gates, Jewish bathhouse and Romanesque churches are well preserved.
Besalú is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Catalonia and was once the capital of a county. Its symbol is the 11th- to 12th-century Romanesque Pont Vell. Seven arches cross the Fluvià river in a zigzag line, and a defensive gate tower stands in the middle of the bridge. The view of its reflection from the riverbank is the most photographed. The town has a medieval Jewish bathhouse (mikveh), rare in Europe, along with the remains of the Jewish quarter, the Sant Pere monastery church, the Sant Vicenç church and the main square with its stone arcades. You can see most of it in one to two hours on foot. Entry to the Jewish bathhouse requires a paid guided tour from the tourist office, but the rest of the town is free. It is about a 30-minute drive from Girona, and TEISA buses also run there. Combining it with the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres (about 25 km away) or the volcanic area of Olot makes an easy day trip. Paid parking is available outside the town, and it gets busy on summer weekends.
Opening hours
Open all day (Jewish bath visits require a guided tour from the visitor center)
Nearby sights
- Girona
- Girona Cathedral
- Dalí Theatre-Museum
- Dalí Theatre-Museum
- Gala Dalí Castle, Púbol
- Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park
- Empúries
- L'Escala