Catalonia Medieval Villages Small-Group Day Trip from Barcelona

Besalú and its Romanesque bridge

Besalú is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Catalonia. Its fortified stone bridge, dating from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, crosses the river Fluvià and leads into a compact old town of arcaded squares, Romanesque churches and honey-coloured stone.

The town also has one of the rare medieval Jewish ritual baths in Europe, the miqvé, and a well-known old Jewish quarter. Visiting Besalú is a good way to see how medieval Catalonia looked, and your guide explains the history of the bridge, the counts of Besalú and the town's trading past.

Rupit, the stone village

Rupit sits in the Collsacabra hills and is famous for its stone houses with wooden balconies, its cobbled lanes and its hanging footbridge across a stream. The village has kept the look of a mountain settlement, and cars are kept out of its narrow centre.

A short walk shows you the church, the small square and the stone alleys that Rupit is known for. Many people visit Rupit as a day trip from Barcelona for exactly this reason: it feels like stepping into a painting of rural Catalonia. Wear good shoes, because the lanes are steep and uneven.

Tavertet and the cliffs of Collsacabra

Tavertet stands on the edge of a cliff at the top of the Collsacabra plateau, with a vertical drop below and a wide view over the Ter valley and the Sau reservoir. It is a tiny village of stone houses and a Romanesque church, and the viewpoints are the main attraction.

The visit is short but memorable, since the cliff edge and the wide horizon are unlike anything else on the tour. Best light comes in the afternoon, and the wind at the edge can be strong. Take photos from the marked viewpoints and keep children close to you near the drops.

The Catalan countryside between the villages

Between the villages the road passes through forests, farmland and small hills, giving you a look at inland Catalonia away from the coast. The transfers are part of the experience because the landscape changes from green valleys to rocky crags.

A guide tells you about local history, traditions and the region's landscape as you travel. The day trip is best in spring and autumn, when the hills are green or golden, though summer is also possible. In winter the weather can be colder and the villages quieter.