Medieval Villages in Barcelona

Catalonia is a place of great historical interest thanks to the Greco-Roman settlements that still survive today and the medieval legacy, which can be seen in several villages on the Costa Brava.

Visiting the medieval villages of the Costa Brava will undoubtedly enrich your trip, and the best thing about it is that there are organised excursions so that you don't have to worry about anything.

First of all, you will travel to Lloret de Mar, the epicentre of maritime life, and from there you can enjoy a boat trip to Tossa de Mar, a town that will dazzle you with its medieval architecture.

Duration: 9 hoursRecommended: If you love the sea.

What you'll see

The villages of the Costa Brava offer unique views of the Mediterranean and are an indivisible part of the tourist route of Catalonia. But the great advantage of this excursion is that it shows you the Costa Brava on a route that most tourists miss, as its true essence is to be found in the small coves hidden along the coast. You'll be able to swim in the sea away from the crowded beaches and enjoy the crystal clear water of the coves, just like a local.

In addition, with this excursion to the villages and beaches of the Costa Brava, you will visit the medieval village of Pals, whose cobbled streets dotted with arches, stone balconies and wall walk will transport you to another time, and you can climb the village's medieval keep to enjoy spectacular views of the Costa Brava.

Duration: 9 hours.Recommended: If you tend to tire of full-day excursions and want to spend part of the day bathing in the sea.

What you will see

If you are passionate about Dalí's art, you can visit the artist's house and his Theatre-Museum if you book an excursion to Figueres and Cadaqués (you have all the details in my guide on Figueres and Salvador Dalí Museum Day Trips from Barcelona).

On this trip you can also discover the charm of Cadaqués, a village on the Costa Brava that will dazzle you.

The excursion, which lasts approximately 11 and a half hours, takes place in small groups and you will be accompanied by a local guide who will fill you in on all the details.

Duration: 11 and a half hours.Recommended: If you are a lover of contemporary art.

What you will see

Booking a trip to the Pyrenees is a must on your trip to Barcelona. You will explore Vic, Queralbs and some of the mountain valleys. You'll walk through its streets and main buildings, such as the town hall, the cathedral and the Episcopal Museum, and you can visit a local charcuterie to sample a selection of typical cured meats.

Part of Vic's tourist attraction is its market, held in the town's main square, which once a year, in December, becomes one of the most genuine and beautiful medieval markets in Spain. After touring Vic, you will head for Queralbs

Duration: 11 hours.Recommended: If you have already visited the Costa Brava and want to explore the inland villages and their mediaeval legacy.

What you will see

If you want to combine a day in nature with a visit to medieval villages, I recommend the excursion to the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa and several medieval villages. You'll start the day with a hike through the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, one of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in Spain. You will cross a lush holm oak forest and visit the crater of a volcano during the walk.

Afterwards, you will head for the medieval villages. You'll visit Castellfollit de la Roca, a village that seems to stand still in time and whose views are breathtaking as it is situated on top of a cliff almost a kilometre long. Later you will go to Sant Joan les Fonts, visited for its impressive medieval buildings such as the church and monastery, the bridge, the Canadell Tower, the Estancia de Juvinyá, a fortified manor house with a keep, and an old mill.

And to finish the excursion, you will explore Besalú, the most amazing village of the three thanks to its medieval bridge that gives an incomparable charm to this town, whose streets transport you directly to feudal times.

Duration: 9 hours.Recommended: If you want to get into nature.

What you will see

Alex's Traveller Tip

If you visit Vic during the Constitution long weekend in December you will find its medieval market, one of the most beautiful and authentic in Spain thanks to the rural atmosphere of the town.

Do you want to take a trip to the mountains around Barcelona, but you're not convinced by excursions to medieval villages? In that case, book a trip to the Monastery of Montserrat, which has stunning views of the city from the top. Read all the information here: Montserrat Day Trips from Barcelona.

The excursion, which lasts approximately 4.5 hours, is accompanied by a professional guide and you'll be able to admire the popular wooden carving of Our Lady of Montserrat. In addition, to immerse yourself in the origins of the municipality, you will have the opportunity to see the audiovisual exhibition "Espai Audio visual Montserrat".

And to delve even deeper into the local culture, you will enjoy a tasting of the liqueurs made by the local monks.

Duration: 4 and a half hours.Recommended: If you want to get the best snapshots.

What you will see

Although it is a bit difficult to choose one excursion as they all have their own particular interest, I think nothing beats the excursion to the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa with a visit to three medieval villages. The beauty of the surroundings that you see in this experience is something that no one should miss if you have the chance to be in Barcelona for a few days.

Also, I would say that Pals is one of the most touristy villages in the area, so if you tend to avoid the crowds I would say that you might not enjoy visiting it as much.

In any case, in the end it's a matter of choosing according to your preferences: if you like the sea you'll probably enjoy the villages of the Costa Brava more, and if you like the mountains and medieval history you'll love visiting the villages of La Garrotxa, especially Besalú.

How much time do I need

Most excursions are full-day trips, which gives you an idea of how long it really takes to visit a particular area. If you want to combine a visit to Pals on the coast with a trip to the medieval villages inland, you'll have no choice but to do two separate excursions.

If you're travelling to Barcelona with children, a trip to the Costa Brava is probably best, as you'll be spending most of the day on the beach and the sightseeing will be better suited to them in terms of time and route.

Best day of the week to go on an excursion

Some areas of the Garrotxa Natural Park are closed during the week, so you may want to go at the weekend (although you can do the excursion route any day of the week). To visit the villages of the Costa Brava and swim in its beaches, as you would expect, it is best to go during the week to avoid the weekend escapades of other tourists and Barcelona residents.

And if you think that excursions to the medieval villages of Catalonia are not exactly what you are looking for, don't worry, keep reading and later I will tell you about other day trips that can be done from Barcelona.

Best time of the year to visit medieval villages

You can visit the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park at any time of the year, but autumn is undoubtedly the best time thanks to the reddish and orange tones of the holm oaks, especially in mid-November.

In winter, the leaves of the trees will be on the ground and between the fog and the cold you will see a more fantasy-like panorama. In spring and summer the colours of the leaves will not be as impressive, but the weather is usually better and it is hardly warm in the holm oak grove through which the route passes, as it is so leafy.

If you have total freedom to choose, a visit to the medieval market in Vic is well worthwhile. It is held on Constitution Day in December and is one of the most genuine markets I have ever seen. For a trip to the Costa Brava, summer is undoubtedly the best time as you can enjoy a day at the beach and the perfect weather.

Where to eat in the medieval villages

On both the excursion to Vic and Rupit and the visit to the villages and beaches of the Costa Brava you can choose the option with lunch, where you will be taken to a local restaurant for lunch. In the case of the excursion to La Garrotxa and the three medieval villages, lunch is not included so you can take a sandwich in your backpack or eat in Besalú.

Whatever your choice, here are my recommendations for each excursion:

I have written a practical guide about Day Trips and Excursions from BarcelonaCheck it out to see all the options you have to spend a day discovering Catalonia beyond the city!

For any of these excursions I recommend the usual: comfortable shoes, as you'll be walking most of the day, sun cream and a cap or hat if you're going in spring or summer, as the sun can get too hot and you won't enjoy the experience. Oh, and swimwear if you go to the Costa Brava, to swim in its coves.

Take a good coat if you go to the medieval villages in winter, as you'll be entering mountainous areas where the temperature drops quite a lot.