Discover Garrigàs: views and heritage

For a stay in Garrigàs, scenic landscapes and cultural heritage go hand in hand. The Balcó de l’Empordà viewpoint, the municipality’s castles and churches, and the Fluvià offer specific themes to help you plan your trip.

Landscape and views

Garrigàs lies on the ridge and slopes of a low hill. From there, views stretch across the plain of Alt Empordà. The Balcó de l’Empordà viewpoint offers impressive views across the Empordà plain and the Gulf of Roses. The hilltop setting and broad plain give the landscape its distinctive character.

The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, forming a patchwork of large cultivated fields, holm oak and pine forests, and an extensive network of waterways. The Fluvià flows through the municipality and through the villages of Vilajoan and Arenys d’Empordà. The settlement of Arenys d’Empordà lies on a ridge and includes a church, a castle, a rectory and several farmhouses. It is less than 500 metres from the left bank of the Fluvià.

Castles and churches

Arenys d’Empordà Castle was built in the 14th and 15th centuries and later altered. The Romanesque church of Sant Sadurní d’Arenys d’Empordà is incorporated into its defensive structures. The castle and church buildings therefore have a direct architectural connection at this site.

Vilajoan Castle also dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. The church of Santa Maria de Vilajoan contains a tombstone commemorating Garsenda, Lady of Vilajoan, and her husband Bernat de Pontós. Garsenda died on 23 May 1270.

The church of Sant Miquel de Garrigàs is a simple single-nave building with a pointed barrel vault and a semicircular apse. It stands in Veïnat de l’Església on flat ground about 500 metres north of the village.

Routes and surroundings

The short Itinerari saludable Garrigàs route follows Itinerànnia’s yellow markings along local streets and paths. The named sections include Carrer de l’Església and the path from Garrigàs to Santa Eulàlia. Both the colour of the markings and specific street and path names are provided to help with navigation.

In November 2024, the Via Verda between Garrigàs and Arenys d’Empordà was described as a planned connection. It was intended to provide safe and sustainable access to the natural surroundings of the two villages. This plan complements the existing description of streets and paths without implying that the Via Verda is currently in operation.

Culture and local cuisine

A 19th-century hydroelectric power station can be seen on the Fluvià near Arenys d’Empordà. It adds a technical structure from a later period to the themes of castles and church architecture. At the Ermedàs archaeological site, 14 silos and the remains of two hut floors have also been discovered.

The 2025 edition of Mirador Photo Garrigàs was the festival’s 13th edition. It brought photography and audiovisual media together with nature and literature.

Garrigàs’s traditional cuisine includes “platillo” d’ànec and farcit de pomes, and especially botifarra dolça. These dishes give local food culture a distinct place alongside views, architecture and landscape. If you choose Garrigàs as your destination, you will find a range of themes to help shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Vilajoan, Beget, Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurní de l'Heura, La Cometa, Sant Llorenç De La Muga, Pals, Hostalric, Sant Miquel d'Aro.

Go to the main travel overview: Girona.