Peratallada, the secret gem of Costa Brava
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• Catalonia
The Cruïlles fief
In an area of Neolithic dolmens, Peratallada is a medieval complex with a famous castle-palace. Its history is linked to one of the most famous feudal families in Catalonia. Do you dare to discoverwhat to see in Peratallada?This town is considered to be one of themost importantcentres of medieval architectureinCatalonia. It hides corners of great beauty such as its castle, the church of Sant Esteve, the dolmens of Tres Cantos and many others that we include in the section What to see in Peratallada. As it is a relatively small town the tour can be done in a morning.Traditional house in Peratallada
Traditional house in Peratallada
Brief history of Peratallada
Brief history of Peratallada
The town is full ofmegalithic monumentsthat confirm an early occupation. The Arabs occupied the area between 713 and 725. At that time it was dominated by knights who depended on the Carolingian Empire until the year 801.
Already in 1062 there is a reference to theCastro de Petra Taliata(carved stone). Along the following century there was a stable settlement linked to the lordship of Peratallada. In 1153, Dalmau de Peratallada was one of the first landowners of the place.
La Plaça de les Voltes
This lineage was gaining prestige among theCatalan nobility. However, in 1266 - during a time of deep crisis in the region - the knight Gilabert de Cruïlles married Guillema de Peratallada. Thus, he gained control of the castle and the town, where they usually lived.La Plaça de les VoltesHe was an important character. So much so that, in 1283, he was one of the three knights chosen to accompany KingPeter II the Great of Aragonin the famous tournament that was to take place in Bordeaux (then part of the Kingdom of England). The opponent would be King Charles I of Anjou. The winner was supposed to take both kingdoms but the Frenchman did not show up.
Two years later, Cruïlles will have aprominent performancein the battle that took place in nearby Peralada. In 1315 the king confiscated his fiefdom of Peratallada, returning it to the family some time later. Later, in the 14th century, the town saw aneconomic recoveryand the maintenance of the prestige of the Cruïlles family; which is why on various occasions it received the Kings of Aragon as guests.
During theWar of the Remences, the knight Bernat Gilabert de Cruïlles is one of the nobles who opposed King John II. His son, Prince Ferdinand of Aragon (called the Catholic), in 1476 besieges and conquers the castle with the help of other members of his family. At the end of the war, the lordship was held by a member of the family who supported the king: Pere Galcerán de Cruïlles. In 1964 the castle became the property of the Marquis of Torroella de Montgri, who began to restore it the following year.One of the many charming spots in Peratallada
What to see in Peratallada
One of the many charming spots in Peratallada
What to see in Peratallada
You can start your visit to Peratallada, declared a Historic-Artistic Site, by walking around theWall, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, and observing its moat. ThePortal de la Virgenalso stands out, the only one of the medieval entrances still visible.
Street in Peratallada
Castles
Street in Peratallada
TheCastlethat you see in Peratallada has a very remote origin. It preserves in its complex structure some early medieval traces, although most of it is from the 11th to 13th centuries. It is remarkable in Peratallada its well-preservedTower of Homage, crowned by battlements. Inside the enclosure, opposite the main square, is the late medieval palace in Gothic style inhabited for so many centuries by the Cruïlles.
In the same way, it is possible to see another tower of homage, belonging to theCastell de Peralta. Its origin would also be in the 11th century and it also belonged to the lineage that bears the name of this municipality. It was integrated into a farmhouse and we can still observe the low-medieval reforms in its factory.Peratallada Castle | Wikimedia
The most important site in Peratallada
The most important site in Peratallada
Peratallada Castle | Wikimedia
The most important monument to see in Peratallada is theChurch of Sant Esteve(12th century), a valuable example of Catalan Romanesque, which stands out for its sober front, the lower part of which has a characteristic doorway moulded with an oculus. Between the 16th and 18th centuries several chapels were added to the body of the naves in addition to the new sacristy. It was an authentic church-pantheon of the Cruïlles family and some of the medieval tombs are even preserved inside, such as that of Gilberto (1348).
In Canapost you can visit an old medieval necropolis around anotherChurch of Sant Esteve, an example of early Romanesque with pre-Romanesque elements. In the 11th-12th centuries, the tower with its crenellated bell body and a nave were added. The unfinished façade, designed in the 18th century, is surprising. Inside there are Romanesque and Gothic wall paintings.Sant Esteve Church in Peratallada
Main Square
In the Plaça Major,Plaça de les Voltes, a curious ensemble of portals allow visitors to walk underneath the houses; many of which date from the 16th century. In the nearby Sierra de Cals, you can find thedolmens of Tres Cantosand Mas Estanyet. On the other hand, the number of existing lime kilns, such as those at Fonteta, is striking. There are also brickworks such asCan Frigola(San Clemente de Peralta). Finally, the group of theQuarries or Holes of San Julián, of great geological interest, is unusual.Arcade in Peratallada’s main squareMust seePlaça de les Voltes
Sant Esteve Church in Peratallada
Must see
Views of the CastleUseful informationPRACTICAL DATA
Useful information
Arcade in Peratallada’s main square
PRACTICAL DATA
41º 58’ 44” N, 3º 5’ 26” E
Girona 39 km, Barcelona 136 km, Madrid 733 km
You cannot drive in a car. There are two paying parking lots available at the N and S entrances (coming from La Bisbal or Torroella de Montgri).
Plaça de les Voltes
437 (2012)FESTIVITIESMajor Festivals (6 and 7 August)OTHER EVENTSHerb Fair (April 29), Habaneras (July), Medieval Fair (early October)HANDCRAFTCeramics
FESTIVITIES
OTHER EVENTS
Views of the Castle
HANDCRAFT
Источник: Fascinating Spain
