Practical Info
Plan your visit
Location
Peratallada, Forallac, Baix Empordà
Best for
Medieval heritage, architecture, walking and lunch
Time needed
Allow around two hours for the historic centre, or half a day when stopping for lunch.
Getting there
Peratallada is easiest to reach by car. Moventis line 22 connects the village with Palafrugell and La Bisbal d’Empordà, but services are limited, so check the current timetable before travelling.
Parking
Three municipal car parks are located outside the historic centre: Aparcament de Dalt, Aparcament de l’Església and Aparcament de Baix. Vehicle access inside the village is restricted, and seasonal parking charges may apply.
Accessibility
Accessible parking spaces are available. A step-free route leads from the eastern side of the village towards Plaça del Castell, although some historic streets have uneven surfaces.
Castle access
The castle-palace can be seen from Plaça del Castell. It is now used as a private venue for events and is not open for regular public visits.
Best time to visit
Early morning and later afternoon are generally quieter during summer. Weekends, public holidays and annual events can be busy.
See & Do
Squares, towers and stone streets
Two of the main spaces inside the walls are Plaça de les Voltes and Plaça del Castell.
Plaça de les Voltes is a small square lined with stone arches and several restaurants and bars. Visitors entering the village from the eastern side will usually reach this square first.
A short walk further on, Plaça del Castell lies beside the castle-palace. From the square, you can see the rectangular Torre de l’Homenatge, or Tribute Tower, with its square battlements.
Other surviving defensive towers include the North Tower, the West Tower and the Torre de les Hores. The latter housed the village clock and bells, which were used to mark the time for residents.
Smaller spaces such as Plaça dels Esquiladors are connected by narrow streets, stone arches and covered passages. The historic centre is compact, so it can be explored without following a fixed route.
The Torre de les Hores
The Torre de les Hores formed part of Peratallada’s medieval defences and later became the village clock tower.
The restored interior contains parts of its historic clock mechanism, while the upper level provides views across the village and surrounding countryside.
The tower is currently open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. Admission is free and no reservation is required.
Beyond the walls
The northern entrance, Portal de la Verge, stands close to the point where the former drawbridge once controlled access to the village.
On the other side of the road is the parish church of Sant Esteve de Peratallada. Built in the Romanesque style at the beginning of the 13th century, it sits just outside the fortified centre.
The church contains a Gothic tomb dating from 1348. It belongs to one of the lords of Peratallada-Cruïlles, who died during the Black Death.
The exterior can be viewed from the road, although the church interior is not currently open to regular visitors.
The Medieval Villages Route
Another way to visit Peratallada is on the Medieval Villages Route operated by El Xiulet de Pals. The road train starts in Pals and reaches Peratallada after a 15-minute journey, followed by time to explore the historic centre on foot.
The route then continues to Palau-sator for a second walking stop before returning to Pals through the surrounding countryside and rice fields. The full route takes approximately one hour and 45 minutes and is available in Catalan, Spanish, English and French. Tickets currently cost €13 for adults and €7 for children.
Current dates, departure times and availability should be checked directly with El Xiulet de Pals before travelling.
Culture & Art
Origins of a stone village
Peratallada was already in existence by 1065, when it first appeared in surviving historical documents. Its precise origins remain uncertain, but archaeological excavations carried out since the 1970s show that the area was occupied much earlier.
Finds include Roman pottery, fragments of pre-Roman Greek artefacts and medieval ceramics and glass. Together, they point to a long history of settlement before Peratallada developed into the fortified village seen today.
Carved rock and serious defences
The name Peratallada is linked to the Catalan words pedra tallada, meaning ‘cut stone’ or ‘carved stone’. It refers to the rock on which the village was built and the moat cut directly into the bedrock around it.
Parts of this moat remain visible today. Access to the village was once controlled by a drawbridge, which no longer survives.
The castle was developed during the 11th and 12th centuries, while the defensive walls were added between the 12th and 13th centuries. The complex was expanded and altered in later centuries.
Together, the moat, walls and towers made Peratallada one of the most strongly fortified villages in medieval Catalunya.
The castle-palace
Peratallada’s castle stands at the centre of the medieval village and was first documented in 1065. After reaching its height during the 13th and 14th centuries, the complex was gradually extended and transformed into a palace. Its rooms still contain architectural elements from different periods, including Romanesque and Gothic windows, wall paintings and medieval timber ceilings.
During the 13th century, the marriage of the houses of Peratallada and Cruïlles created an influential local dynasty. King Joan I of Aragon was among the royal visitors who stayed here. Today, the restored castle-palace is used for private events and can usually be viewed only from the outside.
Food & Drink
Food and places to stop
Several restaurants and bars are grouped around Plaça de les Voltes, Plaça del Castell and the adjoining streets.
This makes Peratallada easy to combine with lunch or dinner, although restaurants can become busy during summer weekends, public holidays and annual events. Booking ahead is sensible during July and August.
Local Events
Markets, herbs and medieval festivities
Peratallada hosts several recurring cultural events throughout the year.
The annual Fira de les Herbes takes place in spring and focuses on herbs, medicinal plants and their traditional uses. The programme generally includes specialist stalls, workshops, talks and activities connected to the natural environment.
During the summer, temporary exhibitions are held at locations including the municipal exhibition space El Teatret. Cultural activities also take place around Plaça del Castell.
In autumn, the Fira Medieval brings craft stalls, performers, music and historical activities into the streets of the old village. Products traditionally sold at the market include cheese, honey, herbs, bread and pastries.
Current dates and programmes can be found in the NjOY! Local Events calendar.
Peratallada works well as a short stop, a half-day visit or part of a wider route through the medieval villages of the Baix Empordà.