Parlavà: Churches, History and August Festivals

The municipal area brings together the river plain, low western hills and several traces of the past.

Landscape and archaeological traces

The municipal area of Parlavà extends across the floodplain of the Ter and Daró rivers. Low hills lie in the western part; Montori is the highest of them. An Iberian-Roman archaeological site was discovered on its upper plateau, 200 metres north of Parlavà. Montori therefore has two distinct associations: it is the highest hill in the west and the site of the archaeological discovery. The plain of the two rivers and the hilly terrain form a clear landscape contrast within the municipal area.

Churches and historical traces

The village of Parlavà is arranged around Sant Feliu, a church dedicated to Saint Feliu. It features significant fortifications dating from the late Middle Ages. These include reinforced walls and rows of gun loops and arrow slits. At Sant Feliu, both the religious dedication and the late-medieval defensive architecture are central.

Fonolleres is home to a well-preserved Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Cristòfol. The two churches are therefore clearly distinct: Sant Feliu is characterised by its fortifications, while the defining feature of the church in Fonolleres is its Romanesque style. Remains of an old castle also survive in Fonolleres. The religious heritage thus ranges from Romanesque architecture to late-medieval fortifications, with the castle remains adding another historical trace.

The year 1314 is also an important point of reference in the history of the area. At that time, Pere de Xesa, the Bishop of Girona, bought the territory of Parlavà; it subsequently came under the authority of the episcopal castle of Rupià. The purchase and the later subordination mark two successive stages. Together with the Iberian-Roman site and the churches, they provide a timeline from the Iberian-Roman period through 1314 to the late-medieval fortifications.

Festivals as travel dates

Parlavà’s Festa Major is celebrated every year on the first weekend of August. The Sopar Popular also takes place every August: hundreds of residents and friends gather for an evening meal together. The Festa Petita falls on Whit Monday in May. The dates therefore mark different points in the calendar: the Festa Major is tied to the first weekend of August, the Sopar Popular to the month of August, and the Festa Petita to Whit Monday in May.

If you want to plan your trip around a festival, check the exact date and programme in advance. The precise dates and programme for the Festa Major may vary. When choosing a hotel in Parlavà, it helps to decide on your preferred travel dates first and consider the festival dates as one possible focus for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Breda, Can Jordi, La Jonquera, Sant Jordi Desvalls, Vilallonga De Ter, Borrassà, Bordils, Camprodon

For the broader travel overview: Girona.