The best things to see and do in Besalú, a beautiful town in Girona

In our purpose to continue discovering the medieval heritage for the Girona province, the town of Besalú He occupied a prominent place.

Some time ago we were captivated by a photo of the medieval bridge of Besalú, and since then we had his visit as a travel objective.

We recently had the opportunity to visit Besalú on a couple of occasions, taking advantage of each trip to enjoy the summer festivals, In the Costa Brava, and also to other medieval enclaves such as in peratalla or monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes.

Located in the region of Garrotxto, west of Figueres, and just 30 kilometers to the northwest of Girona capitalI tell you that Besalú Currently it is one of the enclaves that receives the most tourism from Catalonia.

Passing by the Banyoles Lake, on the first visit we arrived at Besalú on a morning of a sunny August day, when all the tourists must have been milling about in the beaches of the Costa Brava, so there were not many visitors.

But when you see a typical tourist train, it is clear that in the afternoons Besalú It must be one of the most popular visits among said tourists.

It is not a complaint nor a denial of it, because after walk through Besalú and knowing him it is easy to understand why this medieval village It arouses so much attraction.

El historical origin of Besalú It is a fortress that already existed in the 10th century, and now when you visit it you will find corners that will remind you of the typical layout of a medieval town in which, in addition, there was a Jewish neighborhood.

The population boomed when it was an independent duchy between the 10th and 11th centuries.

What to see and do when visiting Besalú in Girona

Without a doubt the best way to start your Besalú visit, certainly one of the most beautiful towns in Girona, In the Costa Brava, is by accessing the interior of the historic helmet for its famous medieval bridge.

Medieval bridge of Besalú

If you are a fan of photography, as is our case, you will not tire of looking for panoramic views to photograph it.

El Besalú bridge It was built in the 12th century to save the waters of the Fluvia River, and in it there are two doors of different sizes, seven arches and almost 150 meters in length.

It is not easy to find a bridge from that time with so much charm, due to its dimensions, configuration and for maintaining the medieval style.

It is certainly the most emblematic monument of Besalú.

As soon as you pass under the second gate of the bridge, you will already find alleys, some of which show craft and craft stores remembrances.

Jewish miqvé of Besalú

You will pass through the half-timbered streets of the old jewish quarter, and you will cross under some stone porticos.

It should be noted that in Besalú is preserved a miqvé from the 12th century, antique bathroomI know that the Jews They are used for the purification of the body, a stay that you can discover if you sign up for the guided tours organized by the tourist office .

It was discovered in 1965 on the site of a small factory.

After analyzing the historical documentation, it was learned that in its time there was a synagogue with a prayer room, school, patio and the aforementioned miqveh.

It must be taken into account that the Jews settled in Besalú in the 12th century, and in the Middle Ages, when the population had about 1.000 inhabitants, 300 were Jews.

They finally abandoned Besalú in 1348 when there was an epidemic of Black Death of which the Jews were accused.

The one of Besalú it is the only medieval jewish miqveh discovered in Spain.

Church of Sant Pere de Besalú

You will soon reach the center of the old town and its main square, where the old church is located. Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Besalú, which was founded in the year 977.

The church building that you can now visit is from the year 1160,

In its sober façade you can see a small window with four archivolts and the figure of a lion on each side of it.

With three naves, it is well worth accessing its interior to see the beautiful circular ambulatory of the apse, an architectural solution that is not common to see in this type of monuments.

Besalú Miniatures Museum

To complete your visit, and as a further curiosity if you are accompanied by children, next to the church you will find the Besalú Miniature Museum,

This small museum consists of only two rooms you can see miniature and microminiature artistic works, the latter with the help of magnifying glasses and microscopes.

• Here you can consult the schedules and ticket prices.

Photos of Besalú in Girona

As an invitation to visit this charming medieval town, here are more photos of Besalú.

How to get to Besalú

A Besalú can arrive in just half an hour by car from the city of Girona, and you arrive in an hour and a half from Barcelona.