Spain – Santa Pau (En)

We visited Santa Pau because we had heard it was one of the 10 most beautiful towns in the province of Girona, and it didn’t disappoint. Santa Pau stands out as a historical and artistic monument. The views from the viewpoint square are incredible; they were our favourite part.

Where to stay

We stayed at the municipal motorhome area (42.146931, 2.566816 Lat, long), next to the tourist office. Upon arrival, you scan a barcode and pay €8 per day. There’s a designated area for filling and emptying grey and black water tanks. There are also rubbish bins. It’s a spacious area with plenty of room. A supermarket is a 2-minute walk away, and the old town is just 10 minutes away. The town is beautiful and well worth a visit. We stayed for two days without any problems; it’s safe and quiet at night. I highly recommend it.

What to see

We walked towards the old town and passed by the tourist office, but it was closed at this time of year. Next to the tourist office was a very cute pizza stand with tables, but it was closed too.

The first place you come to is the Mirador Square, a prime spot for admiring the medieval village. We loved the views. Next to the plaza is the town hall, which I thought was adorable. Opposite it is a tourist shop selling local products, such as the region’s beans.

From the town hall, down a narrow stone street to the bridge, cross it and enter the old town (Vila Vella) through the Portal de Sant Antoni, one of the two access gates to the walled enclosure.

And you arrive at the magnificent Mayor Square, surrounded by beautiful arcades and showcasing a wide variety of Catalan Gothic styles from the 13th and 14th centuries. Most of the surrounding houses are attached to the back of the old city wall.

The square is dominated by the 16th-century Church of St. Mary, a Gothic building with a rather imposing bell tower. It was open, so we were able to see inside. The interior is quite simple but very beautiful.

Surrounding the square, you’ll find Santa Pau Castle. This castle-palace began construction in the mid-13th century and was completed in the 18th century. The keep is its most prominent feature. The walled enclosure, which we explored, was gradually built around it, passing through charming passageways.

On the other side of the castle, along the walls, you have views of the Basalt Walk and the Santa Pau Lava Flow. It is a lava flow approximately 28,100 years old, originating from the Rocanegra volcano and eroded by the Ser River.

We continue along the wall, where you can see different, very beautiful parts of the castle. Passing through an alley, you return to the main square.

We crossed the bridge again, and in the Mirador square, we had a drink in the sun and enjoyed the views.

Leaving the mountains behind, our next destination will be Empuriabrava, crisscrossed by navigable canals in the Venetian style and home to the largest residential marina in Europe, which you can see in the next blog post.