Visits to Cruïlles 2024

EXPERIENCE

Guided tours to discover the heritage of Cruïlles, Monells and Sant Sadurní de l’Heura

Cruïlles is a small town with a marked medieval character that preserves part of its wall and the Torre de l’Homenatge of the old castle, which has been left isolated in the middle of the square that bears the same name. From the top of the Tower, which is circular and 26 metres high, you can clearly see the old walled enclosure of the town, which preserves many sections of the perimeter almost intact and some other square towers. Today an estelada flies to commemorate that in 1359 Berenguer de Cruïlles was named the first president of the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Cruïlles, which already appears in documents from the 10th century, is the name given to a famous lineage that, related from the 13th century onwards to the Peratallada, accumulated an extensive territory that reached the sea. The memory of these ancient domains is the almost 100 square kilometres of the municipality of Cruïlles, Monells and Sant Sadurní de l’Heura, created in 1973 with the union of these towns.

The church of Santa Eulàlia, patron saint of the town, along with Sant Ponç, stands in the same square. Although it was consecrated in the 11th century, there are no remains of the old Romanesque building today; the current temple is from the 17th-18th centuries. The bell tower and the façade, which suffered serious pathologies and cracks, have recently been restored.

Sant Sadurní de l’Heura

Located at the foot of the Gavarres, Sant Sadurní de Salzet or Saldet is the old name of the town, and is already mentioned in documents from the 11th century. The neighbourhoods of Estrabau, Rissec, Pedró, Salellas and Banyeres, and part of the village of Sant Miquel de Cruïlles, are also part of the area. With the union of the villages of Cruïlles and Monells in 1973, it became the capital; the plenary sessions of the council are held in the Sant Sadurní Town Hall.

Cruïlles Tower + St. Joan Salellas hermitage (visit 120′)

From the Tower you will have an exceptional view of the Monastery of San Miquel de Cruïlles with the Gavarres in the background and the Empordà plain to the sea.

The Hermitage of San Juan de Salellas is one of the early Romanesque churches that has survived in the best state of preservation to this day. It is located right below the monastery of San Miquel, within the properties of Mas de Can Salellas. It was restored at the end of the 20th century and every June a meeting is held to celebrate the saint’s day.

Monells (Visit 90′)

Monells is a medieval town built around an old castle of which only the walls remain. The ensemble formed by its squares and streets exemplifies the evolution of popular architecture through different historical stages. From the Romanesque period, parts of the walls and towers that surrounded the town and the castle are preserved. In Gothic style, the Plaza del Oli, the Calle de els Arcs and some large windows.

A leisurely stroll through its streets contemplating the beauty of its houses until reaching the magnificent porticoed Plaza Jaime I, the scene of a very important market that was held during the medieval period is one of the main attractions.

The charm and good restoration of this square and the streets of Monells have attracted the filming of all kinds of advertisements and a good part of the Spanish film ‘Ocho apellidos catalanes’.

Cruïlles Monastery (90′)

Visit to the ancient 11th century Benedictine Romanesque monastery

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SPECIFICATIONS

Free visit courtesy of the Town Hall of Cruïlles – Sant Sadurní de l’Heura and Monells.

To access the Tower, groups of a maximum of 12 people will be made and if the number of people is exceeded, 2 shifts will be made during the visit so as not to exceed the load capacity of the space of the Tower’s viewing point.

For more information about the municipality, you can visit:

Visit CMSS
17118
Calle Jazmín núm.6
Cruïlles
972 64 05 73