Tripadvisor Dubrovnik Hotels - Northern Spain guide to Besalu,

Unique Points

And the city of Girona, the coast, the Dali Museum in Figueres, the Garrotxa Volcanic Park, there is a lot to do and see in the area. Well served by Ryanair flights from all over Europe, , it would take under an hour to drive from Girona airport. Besalu is an ideal choice, if you are looking for a picturesque inland setting for a few days. The town sits where the Rivers Fluvia and Capadella meet. The 12th century Roman bridge over to the town is a real landmark(photo). Besalu is a lovely medieval town.

History of Besalu

Even having hair of on the souls of his feet, he was so named as he was as hairy as a mountain troll. Was born in Besalu in 878, credited with the unification of Catalonia, wilfred the Hairy.

A type of lyric poet who composed music and poetry usually on the topic of courtly love, a troubadour. Besalu was the birthplace of Ramon Vidal. Now in France, in the Middle Ages Besalu was the capital of a country which reached up to Corbieres.

In the main square was originally part of a monastery built in 1003, the Church of Sant Pere.

You need to visit the Tourist Office in the main square to obtain the key. It was recently discovered and restored. It is located near the River Fluvia in the lower town. The Milova is a ritual Jewish bath dating from the 11th or 12th century.

It is left outside for two weeks so that the magic and power of the sun and the moon can contribute to its special flavour; legend tells that witches supervise its production. Coffee and nuts; spices, a grappa based sweet liquor flavoured with herbs, this is the local "firewater". In December there is the Fiera de Ratafia.

There is an outdoor market on Tuesdays.

Restaurants

There is a list or restaurants on their site. The aim is to promote and
encourage the traditional gastronomic style using local
produce. Many of the restaurants in the area are members of the
Volcanic Cuisine organisation.

The Oliveras restaurant in Besalu has various set and a la
carte menus which start at 7.60 euros per person.

Day Trips

Do some shopping, visit the
cathedral, you can walk the city walls, there area
several museums, girona
You can easily spend a whole day in Girona.

Which you
can walk around, the main attraction here is the lake. Banyoles.

Is well worth a visit, around 20kms east of
Besalu, the Dali Museum in Figueres.

There are several walks through
the park. Meaning that the volcanoes
are inactive but not extinct, 500 years ago, the last eruption
was around 11. The Garrotxa Volcanic Park
The park has around thirty volcanic cones.

Walking trails
There are many marked trails in the area

The Volcanic
Musuem and the ethnological Comarcal de la Garrotxa. Museums
There are two museums in the town of Olot.

I also rather liked El Porto la Selva a
little further north. Miro and Duchamps, picasso, its famous residents have included Dali. Reached by a road full of hairpin
bends, the Coast
Cadaques is a lovely spot.

Carcassonne is a complete medieval
walled city. Just
north of Perpignan, it is very pretty on the coast around Luecate. France is easily reached by
motorway, south West France
If you feel like a change.