Besalu is a medieval town that’s worth a visit when you’re in Catalonia. Here’s your guide to the attractions in Besalu and what you won’t want to miss.
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You may not have heard of Besalu. I hadn’t until a few weeks ago. It’s a small town located in the northern region of Catalonia with just over 2300 inhabitants. What it lacks in size it makes up for in history.
It has a monastery from the 10th century, castles from the 14th century, a medieval synagogue from the 12th century, a parish church from the 12 and 13th centuries and so much more!
Where is Besalu?
Besalu is located in the Girona province, Catalunya. It’s ~1 hour away from Barcelona by car and makes for a wonderful day trip filled with mountain views. If you are planning a tour of Costa Brava or Barcelona, then I highly recommend that you add Besalu to your itinerary to check out all the panoramic views of yesteryears.
Related Reading: Coastal Hiking Tour From Spain to France
What is Besalu Famous For?
Walking through Besalu is like wandering into a medieval dream. The roads are cobblestone that are hundreds of years old and the old medieval bridge with its fort-like pillars makes you imagine some famous knight coming home to his princess.
Besalu was once the capital of a medieval state, over a thousand years ago. It may not have the majesty of palaces but I can tell you that it’s straight out of a King Arthur movie (the one with Sean Connery obviously). Can you imagine that the town market was established in 1027?
The town also has a very important Jewish heritage as it is a part of the Jewish route in Spain. Jewish community and history go way back here and there is even a ritual Jewish bath dating back to the 12th century.
Related Reading: Catalonia Spain: Why You Need To Experience Adventure Here
What to See in Besalu
I thoroughly enjoyed my day in Besalú strolling through this small medieval town, along small maze-like passageways, making several stops for a cappuccino along the way. They know how to make a good cappuccino here!
Related Reading: Rafting the Noguera Pallaresa in Catalonia
My favorite way to experience Besalú was just wandering. I wandered through the cobblestone streets, I walked along the river, taking in the views of the famous bridge, I wandered through the passageway.
Related Reading: Hiking in La Gomera Why You’ll Want to Do a 7-Day Self-Guided Hike
My Favourite Cafe
It was one of these such passageways, that led to an AMAZING cafe, 10 del Pont, a stone-walled cafe with an assortment of teas and the best caramels I have ever tasted. I bought three bags the first time, then went back the next day for another bag. Despite my sugar high from four bags of caramels, I wish I would have bought more.
I preferred to walk the streets of Besalú – wait a minute, that didn’t come outright, but you know what I mean. Besides I had to burn off some of the calories I consumed from eating four bags of caramels, but there’s also a train that takes you through the city, providing another more leisurely option that was also available for those who hadn’t indulged as I had.
Along the way we stopped at the cathedral, dominating the town square:
Next was a stop at the quirky and almost unbelievable Museum of Miniatures:
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The Museum of Miniatures in Besalu
The Museum of Miniatures features over 2000 pieces of varying sizes, with the micro miniatures featuring detailed artworks displayed in the eye of a needle! Fortunately, the micro miniatures are presented with magnifying glasses.
The miniatures here are created by artists from all over the world. I wonder how much patience goes into these creations and what a surgeon’s hand you must need to achieve this level of perfection in something this small! I loved this 0ff-beat museum and I think it would be a hit with children as well.
Related Reading: 5 Best Hikes in Spain.
Besalu’s Humble Chairs
Besalú is also soon to be famous for its artwork – the humble chair as you’ve never seen it before. It’s a collaborative art project between inhabitants who donate space and artists who create their version of a chair.
Perhaps one day tourists will flock here for its world-famous chair collection, but one that is under lock and key so that nobody can steal your favorite chair. Only you can open it up when you’re ready to use it – with a key. Genius!
Related Reading: My Favorite Thing to Do in Girona
Related Reading: What It’s Really Like to Walk the Last 100Km of the Camino.
What to Know Before You Go to Besalu
Accommodation
There are a lot of options for accommodation in Besalu if you would like to spend a night. The Els Jardins De La Martana Hotel is located right at the Romanesque bridge and only 550m away from the town’s center. The hotel comes highly rated (9.1).
They even have bicycles to hire, perfect if you would like to explore the excellent cycling routes in the area. If you prefer apartments to hotels then Cal Fuster is perfect for you. It’s only 350m away from the town center. The apartment is large so if you’re planning a family or group trip then this is most definitely the place for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day in Besalú. Its proximity to other interesting destinations in Catalonia such as the winery hosting Martin Faixó wines, which are made according to centuries of family traditions, and Salvador Dali’s house, make it a great base for a slow travel adventure.
It is hard to beat the view from the backyard of Mas Tallaferro, our luxury villa from Charming Villas located just a few minutes walk from the town square.
Related Reading: 14 of the Best Medieval Villages in Northern Spain.
Besalu is a great town to visit if you want to get off the beaten track in Catalonia. I loved my visit.
Thank you to Charming Villas for making my trip to Besalú so enjoyable. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
