Visit Pals, Spain; a lovely medieval village

Visit Pals

Pals in the province of Girona in Spain's Catalonia region. It is a wonderful medieval village inland of the Costa Brava coast. It is just a few kilometers inland from the best part of the Costa Brava - the Baix Emporda. Pals is a Historic Artistic Site of Spain.

Explore Pals

Spain This Way comment: Pals is a charming medieval village that has been beautifully restored. If you are looking for a rest from the beach then this is a lovely village to head for.

Pals is a medieval village which was once neglected but a local doctor set too in leading the restoration of its Gothic Quarter and it is now very attractive.

The main road into the village winds upwards towards the large tower which remains of the castle that once stood here. This impressive keep is a circular Romanesque tower dating from the 11-13th centuries. The tower is known as the Torre de les Hores (Tower of the Hours) as it was used as a clock tower in the 15th century.

Next to the castle tower is an impressive house that looks medieval but is in fact modern and it is the home of the Pi i Figueres family who were instrumental in renovating the town.

From here you can see the impressive ramparts and have views out over the surrounding countryside. Parts of the ramparts are planted up with impressive large cacti.

There are four large towers which remain of the original fortifications linked by the thick stone ramparts. These date back to the 12th century.

The church is also at the top of the village and inside you can admire the lovely vaulted Gothic interior. The church was built in the 10th century and is quite a mix of styles. It is mostly Romanesque but has a Gothic nave and apse and a Baroque portico and belltower.

The main part of the town lies just below the castle and church and is a pleasure to wander round and explore. The Gothic quarter has been totally renovated and you can admire its cobbled streets, arched doorways and windows and stone or wrought iron balconies.

The Placa Major in the heart of medieval Pals is a picturesque square and home to the town hall. In the village are a couple of shops selling the brightly coloured and cheaply priced Catalan pottery which is made in the area and there are a few little cafes where you can idle away some time watching the world go by.

There is a small museum in Pals, the Museu-Casa de Cultura Ca La Pruna, which has a replica 18th century pharmacy and some items taken from an English warship which sank in the 1808 War of Independence at the siege of Roses.

Pals sits above the Platja de Pals, a small and pleasant resort with various hotels and villas and a reasonable selection of bars and restaurants. The main beach is the Playa de Pals, surrounded by rocky cliffs.

Golf enthusiasts will know of Pals golf course which is one of the best in Spain and hosts a number of international competitions.

Where to visit near Pals?

Peratallada is another lovely medieval village just a few kilometers from Pals. Nearby Begur is a charming hill town with a number of beaches close by.

The upmarket resorts of Llafranc and Tamarui are a little further south on the coast as is the lovely seaside village of Calella de Palafrugell.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Girona guide and the Catalonia guide.