Marzà: Castle Remains, Historic Centre and the Way of St James

Marzà brings together an inhabited historic centre, medieval castle remains and a section of the Way of St James that passes through its streets. The town’s history and the route intersect at specific points: the path follows two named streets through the historic centre and leaves the town by the church. This distinction can help with your planning if you wish to focus on the historic centre, the Way of St James or both. Travelling by train is also relevant, as Marzà has no railway station.

Historic Centre and Castle Remains

The historic centre consists of approximately 40 houses and farmsteads. Most of the buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries, although many have been modernised. Together, they form short streets and a square among the remains of the medieval castle. The castle remains are therefore located within the inhabited centre today and form part of the wider townscape. The castle gate to the northeast of the square stands out for its elegant round arch, made of large wedge-shaped stones. West of the portal is a large section of the castle wall, which has loopholes; houses are built against much of it. The gate, wall and adjoining buildings illustrate the different architectural elements within the historic centre.

Church and Historical Dates

The new church of Sant Isidre i Sant Antoni de Marzà stands at the western edge of the town; it was blessed on 15 May 1968. This adds a 20th-century building with a specific date to the medieval castle remains. Another date in the town’s history is 1288: the abbot of Sant Pere de Rodes bought the castle of d’Amarsà, together with its properties and jurisdictions, from the knight Simó de Sales.

Landscape and Municipal Area

A basalt layer emerges northeast of Marzà, providing a landscape landmark alongside the buildings of the historic centre. On a larger geographical scale, the Aiguamolls de l’Alt Empordà area, protected under the PEIN, also includes the municipal area of Pedret i Marzà. These are two distinct scales to bear in mind: the basalt layer lies northeast of the town, while the protected area extends across the municipal area of Pedret i Marzà.

The Way of St James through Marzà

The Way of St James approaches Marzà along a path parallel to the Riera de Pedret. In the historic centre, the route follows Carrer de la Tramuntana and Carrer del Mar; it leaves the town by the church, along a path near the railway tracks. These landmarks help you identify the approach, passage through the historic centre and onward route. The two street names help trace the route through Marzà, while the stream and tracks are reference lines outside the streets. If the Way of St James is part of your travel plans, check the current path conditions before setting out.

Planning Your Train Journey

Marzà has no railway station and no train service. The nearest station is in Vilajuïga; a local path connects the station with Marzà. If you travel by train, plan the station and the onward walk as separate sections. Before travelling, check current train connections and the condition of the path, as services and path conditions may change.

Discover more destinations: Planoles, Campllong, Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurní de l'Heura, Llambilles, Sant Feliu de Buixalleu, Terrades, L’escala, La Cometa.

For the main travel overview: Girona.