Fontanilles – Landscape and History

Fontanilles lies on the summits of two small hills. Most of the municipality is an alluvial plain; gentle hills rise to the west. At the same time, the town’s history and the medieval Castellot offer specific cultural points of interest. When planning a trip to Fontanilles, you can choose between the landscape, history and a named walking route as different ways to explore the area.

Taking in the Landscape

The Daró runs through the municipality. From Fontanilles or Puig de Miramar (54 m), there are sweeping views across the cultivated landscape of the plain, whose edges are marked by rows of willows and poplars. The elevation of Puig de Miramar and the description of the view complement each other: 54 metres marks the hill’s height, while the view takes in the plain and its rows of trees. Gentle hills add to the terrain in the west. This gives you distinct landscape features to explore: the elevated location of Fontanilles, the broad lowland, the western hills and the river.

Walking: the Passejada per Gualta i Fontanilles

The Passejada per Gualta i Fontanilles is an easy circular walk covering 5.5 kilometres, with 100 metres of elevation gain, and takes two hours. For planning your trip, the two-hour duration provides a time frame; the distance and elevation gain add details about the route and elevation profile. The easy rating answers a different question from the time estimate: it describes the difficulty, not the duration. You can therefore consider the time required and the stated difficulty separately when making your decision.

History and the Church of Sant Martí

Fontanilles is documented in written records from 965. In the same year, Arnulf, Bishop of Girona, consecrated the Church of Sant Martí de Fontanilles. The year 965 thus connects two distinct historical details: the first written record of the town and the consecration of a specific building. Sant Martí is Romanesque, but later additions obscure the church’s original form. This contrast is important when considering its architecture: its Romanesque character points to its original design, while later additions affect how it appears today. The church therefore offers not only a historical connection, but also a clear question about its architectural history: what belongs to its Romanesque origins, and what was added later?

Castellot: Ruins and a Round Tower

The ruins of Fontanilles’ medieval castle are popularly known as Castellot. On the upper part of the site, the foundations of another round tower are still visible. A round tower has a circular ground plan; at Castellot, this additional tower can be identified by its foundations. This surviving architectural feature shifts the focus from the castle’s name to one specific element of its architecture.

If you are looking for hotels for a trip to Fontanilles, the purpose of your visit may help you decide: would you like to plan an easy, two-hour circular walk, or are you more interested in the town’s history and buildings? The walk offers a specific, measured time frame, while Castellot and Sant Martí provide a historical and architectural focus.

Discover more destinations: Llabià, Vilopriu, Garriguella, Cabanelles, Llampaies, Portbou, Garrigoles, Pau.

View the broader travel overview: Girona.