What to see in Monells with the family

young men

Answer the question what to see in Monells with the family It is like talking to you about a journey through time. This beautiful Catalan town seems to have remained stuck in the Middle Ages for the layout of its streets and its popular houses built between the 15th and 17th centuries.

Located in the municipality of Cruilles, Monells and San Sadurní, within the region of Lower Ampurdán (Gerona), also has a privileged natural environment. It is located about twenty kilometers from the Costa Brava and at the foot of the mountainous massif of Les Gavarres. Precisely, in the latter you have magnificent hiking routes, as we will see. But this is part of the many things to see in Monells with the family. Below, we show them to you, but, first we must do a little history.

A review of the history of Monells

View of Monells

La Riera, in the town of Monells

The town of Girona was created around the church of san genis and castle, which we will discuss later. Its name probably comes from the large number of mills in the area that used the water from the stream that ran through the centre of the village.

The first news of the town dates back to the beginning of the 1103th century, with references to the aforementioned temple passing into the hands of the canonical church of Gerona. Also, from XNUMX there is a document in which the Count Ramon Berenguer III grants to Auger of Monells the transfer of the market to the town from Anyers. This brought great prosperity.

They were also important characters Guillem de Monells, bishop of Gerona between 1168 and 1178, and his brother Ponç, who held the same position in the diocese of Tortosa. Already in the 13th century, the area was owned by the Viscounts of Bas. After the wedding of one of his daughters, it became the capital of the Empúries County.

However, this did not last long. After his confrontation with the king James II, the town was occupied by his troops and sold. But, in 1385, Peter the Ceremonious incorporated it into the Crown of Aragon giving it important privileges. Finally, during the 16th and 17th centuries, Monells grew thanks to the strength of its market. Since then, its inhabitants have lived from agriculture and, more recently, from the many visitors who come to see this beautiful town. And that is exactly what we are going to do.

The Castle district, the first thing to see in Monells with the family

Arches Street

Calle de los Arcos, one of the most typical streets in Monells

Visiting this town with the family is a great idea. Your young children will enjoy it. an environment that will take you back to the Middle Ages and they will feel like ancient feudal lords. The best place to achieve this is the castle district, which, as its name indicates, was built around the one we have already mentioned. Of what was the old castle, there are only sections of its walls and some towers built between the 14th and 15th centuries.

Inside, the neighborhood we are talking about developed, which, although it has Romanesque elements, is mostly Gothic. Its nerve center is the Jaume I Square, which forms a sort of rectangle. Several of its sides have porticos with lowered arches. As for the houses that frame it, they were built between the 15th and 18th centuries. Among them, the most notable is the House of the Common, which you will see in the eastern part. However, the so-called Monells median wall It is located on its north side. As a curiosity, we will tell you that this square served as a setting for some scenes of the film Eight catalan surnames, like the rest of Monells.

Monells Wall

Portal of Vilanova street, rest of the old wall of Monells

It is also very pretty Oil Square, smaller, but also notable for the arcades of its medieval houses. It was the first place where the town's populous market was set up, which we have already told you about, before moving on to the Plaza de Jaume I.

Between both spaces is the Arcs street, one of the most famous in the town. Its genuine medieval feel is characterised by the Romanesque and Gothic arches that give it its name, some of which are vaulted, and the buildings that frame it.

Already in the 17th and 18th centuries, houses were built on the castle walls, giving rise to new streets such as those of Vilanova and the RieraThe first of them, however, runs along an ancient path called Via Mercadera in the 11th century. It linked Cruilles with Anyers and was part of the old roads. Others were the one from Ampurias, which dates back to Roman times; which went from Monells to Girona passing through the Vall de Sant Daniel and the Àngels and the one of Castellar de la Selva.

The church of San Genís de Monells

Church of Saint Genis

Church of San Genís, the main monument to see in Monells with the family

Another of the monuments to see in Monells with the family is the temple of Saint Genis which, as we were saying, was the origin of the town. You will find it outside the walls, in the La Riera neighbourhood. It stands out for its large size and, above all, because it combines the Romanesque style of the chancel with the Gothic style of the nave and the apse and with the Baroque style of its western façade and bell tower.

On the outside, it has a gabled roof and the aforementioned is striking. western facade, divided into three bodies. Above all, it is very beautiful your door, with a narrow arch opening and classical inspiration. It is topped by a pediment with a niche that houses the image of the saint.

The interior is divided into a single nave with side chapels and a polygonal chancel. The bell tower rises on the left side of the façade. Its base is square, but then develops into an octagonal shape, decorated with semicircular arch windows.

The temple of San Genís was restored in the second half of the 20th century. During the works, it was found a lipsanoteca or small chest with relics that had been placed on the altar in 1310. Currently, this piece is displayed in the Girona Museum of Art, which we also recommend you visit.

Farmhouses and rural houses outside the walls of Monells

Farmhouse

Ca l'Estanyol, one of the best manor houses in the Girona town

Among the things to see in Monells with the family, we also recommend that you visit the manor houses and farmhouses in the vicinity. To the north of the castle, there is More Juncosa, also called Can Puig-Salelles. It was built in the 17th century and is even fortified. Also to the northwest is Ca l'Estanyol, dating from the late 16th or early 17th century, which stands out for its spectacular Renaissance courtyard and currently functions as an agricultural school.

Other spectacular manor houses that you can see in the surroundings of Monells are Tower of the Tower, with its stone facade and rectangular defensive tower, and More Portòs, whose origins date back to the 14th century.

Hiking routes around Monells

Monastery of San Miguel

Monastery of Sant Miquel de Cruilles

We have already mentioned to you that the mountain range of Les Gavarres offers you magnificent hiking routes. For example, from Monells starts the so-called Tour of Les Gavarres, which offers you wonderful landscapes. However, it is very long and has a strong positive gradient. Therefore, as we are talking about what to see in Monells with the family, we will tell you about other easier and safer routes. Thus, you can do the routes that connect the town with other neighboring ones such as Saint Sadurní of the HeuraThey travel through the Girona countryside, with its forests and agricultural lands, and are very beautiful.

This is the case of medieval route through Monells, Cruilles and Sant Sadurní, which is 13 kilometres long and has hardly any gradient. You will also see monuments such as the chapel of Sant Joan de Salelles, the imposing monastery of Sant Miquel de Cruilles and hermitage of Santa Cristina, all of them Romanesque.

Les Gavarres

Path in the Les Gavarres massif

Also quite simple is the Circular route that starts and ends in Monells passing through Madremanyà and Millàs. It is about nine kilometers with only 185 meters of positive gradient. It also passes through natural spaces such as the pine forest of The Plous and allows you to see buildings like the Millas Castle, built in the 13th century and close to the church of Sant Iscle and Santa Victoria, which is Romanesque from the 11th century.

But, if you want to do some route in summer, the best way to escape the sun and walk among the shadows of the forests is the one that connects Monells with PlanilsIt also has an affordable length of 9,68 kilometres and a low positive gradient of 136 metres. You will find the protection of forests such as L'Arbreda or Gran de Can Vaca.

The delicious gastronomy of Monells

Butifarra

Typical sausage from Empordà

Finally, we can only recommend that you try the delicious gastronomy of the town. The cuisine of the Empordà It is usually called of sea and mountains for combining typical products from both places in their stews. Among these products, vegetables such as eggplant, bicho (a variety of yellow pepper), angel hair endive or black turnip stand out.

As for the preparations, you must try the magnificent sausages and other Sausages; The escudella, common to all of Catalonia; the delicious fritters from Ampurdán, which are typical of Easter, but are available all year round; apples stuffed with meat, a recipe that has its roots in the Middle Ages or the panellets with almonds and pine nuts.

Regarding drinks, you can accompany the dishes with a Peralada white wine or red wine from Benifallet, both integrated in the Empordá designation of origin. And, to finish your meal, we recommend a burnt one, coffee with flambéed rum that is delicious.

In conclusion, we have proposed What to see in Monells with the family, as well as some activities that you can do in this beautiful Catalan medieval village from the province of Gerona. Go ahead and discover it with your whole family and enjoy everything it has to offer.


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