Besalú: Romanesque bridge and Jewish quarter

The Romanesque bridge over the Fluvia river is Besalú's most famous sight and one of the most photographed medieval bridges in Spain. Built in the 11th-12th centuries, it has seven arches of varying sizes following the river's contours.

Unique features include:

• Fortified gateway: a defensive tower and gate in the middle of the bridge (unique in Spain)
• Angled design: the bridge bends to follow the river, creating a dynamic profile
• Massive stone construction: built to last, surviving wars and floods

Walk across the bridge (pedestrians only) for the full experience, then view it from the riverbank below for classic photographs. The best light is late afternoon when the sun illuminates the honey-coloured stone.

The bridge is free to visit and accessible 24/7.

Besalú had an important Jewish community from the 9th to 15th centuries, and the medieval Jewish quarter (call) survives remarkably intact. The highlight is the mikveh, a ritual bath used for purification ceremonies.

The Besalú mikveh dates from the 12th century and is one of only three medieval mikvehs preserved in Spain. Located underground, it consists of:

• Stone chamber: barrel-vaulted room cut into the rock
• Bath pool: filled by a natural spring (fresh water was essential for ritual purity)
• Entrance staircase: descending to the bath level

The mikveh was rediscovered in 1964 and carefully excavated. Guided visits cost 2 EUR and take about 20 minutes. Tours explain Jewish life in medieval Catalonia and the rituals associated with the mikveh.

The former Jewish quarter streets (Carrer del Call) preserve medieval houses and stone portals.

Beyond the bridge and Jewish quarter, Besalú has numerous Romanesque and Gothic buildings:

Sant Pere monastery:

• Benedictine monastery founded in 977
• Romanesque church with impressive ambulatory (rare in Catalan Romanesque)
• Lion sculptures guarding the entrance
• Free to visit

Sant Vicenç church:

• 12th-century Romanesque church with beautiful apse
• Rose window added in Gothic period

Casa Cornellà:

• 14th-century Gothic mansion, now the tourist office
• Courtyard and Gothic arches visible

Plaça Llibertat:

• Arcaded medieval square, once the market
• Surrounded by medieval buildings with stone facades

Besalú celebrates its medieval heritage with the Fira Medieval in early September, when the entire town transforms with:

• Medieval market stalls
• Period costumes and reenactments
• Craft demonstrations (blacksmithing, weaving)
• Troubadour music and medieval food

If visiting during the festival (first weekend of September), book accommodation well in advance as the town fills completely.

Year-round gastronomy: Besalú's restaurants serve traditional Alt Empordà cuisine:

• Coca de recapte: flatbread with vegetables and fish
• Sausages: botifarra, bull, llonganissa
• River fish: trout from the Fluvia
• Wild mushrooms: seasonal (autumn)

Set menus in medieval-atmosphere restaurants cost 15-22 EUR.

Morning: Drive from La Tor de Montclar to Besalú (1.5 hours via C-16 north, C-26 east through Olot, then C-66 north). Arrive around 10am.

Park in the designated areas outside the old town (free or 2-3 EUR). Walk across the fortified bridge for your first view of the town.

Visit the mikveh (guided tours run every 30 minutes), then explore the Jewish quarter streets.

Late morning: Visit Sant Pere monastery and Sant Vicenç church, then wander the medieval streets photographing stone doorways and hidden corners.

Lunch: Choose a restaurant in the old town, ideally with a terrace for outdoor dining.

Afternoon: Options for completing the day:

• Option A: Drive to Banyoles lake (15 min) for a lakeside walk
• Option B: Return via Olot to visit the volcanic zone or Fageda forest
• Option C: Simply relax in Besalú, perhaps with a coffee in Plaça Llibertat