Peralada: Culture, Wine and Historic Architecture

Peralada brings together Romanesque and Gothic architecture, wine culture and a festival held in a medieval castle complex. If you are looking for a hotel, deciding what to focus on during your trip can help you plan: would you like to explore historic buildings, learn about wine culture or plan your stay around the festival?

Romanesque and Medieval Traces

The Romanesque cloister of Sant Domènec is open to the public. It dates from the 12th century and is the surviving remnant of an Augustinian monastery founded in the second half of the 11th century. The historic route passes through streets steeped in history and historic corners; you can explore it at your own pace. This lets you discover the town’s history along different streets and buildings without prescribing a fixed itinerary.

Plaza Gran has been the heart of Peralada since the Middle Ages. Portal del Comte was the main entrance to the second fortified enclosure, built in the last decade of the 13th century. These two places highlight different aspects of the historic townscape: the square represents the centre of Peralada, while the portal represents its medieval fortifications. The Convento del Carmen features a Gothic cloister and a Gothic church dating from the 14th century. The church has an exceptional polychrome wooden ceiling.

Museum, Collection and Wine Culture

The Museu del Castell de Peralada is housed in a former Carmelite monastery dating from the 14th century. The museum includes a wine museum with objects relating to wine culture at its various stages. It was established in the 1960s in a cellar where Peralada wines had previously been made. The room’s history and the objects on display thus offer two different ways of exploring wine: through its former production site and through the objects exhibited.

The Library of Peralada also has a historical connection: it contains 80,000 volumes and traces its origins to the library of the Counts of Peralada. In addition, 25 gold coins dating from the 15th century were found during excavations at the medieval hospital; they are on display at the Centre de Turisme Cultural Sant Domènec. These stories of collections and archaeological finds complement the buildings with insights into the history of books and everyday life.

Wine, Architecture and the Festival

A visit to the Nueva Bodega Perelada includes a tasting of three Perelada wines. As visit options and tasting arrangements may change, check what is available for your dates in advance. The winery was designed by RCR Arquitectes and is considered Europe’s first winery to receive LEED Gold sustainability certification. Architecture and wine are therefore both part of the visit.

The Wine Bar “Celler 1923” serves traditional dishes inspired by 1923, paired with wines from the Perelada estate. The Festival Perelada was founded in 1987 and takes place in July and August in Peralada’s medieval castle complex. Its seasonal timing can be factored into your travel plans without assuming a specific event date.

Park, Trails and Nature

Parque del Castillo is a historic park designed by François Duvillers in 1877. Peralada has various routes and circuits suitable for walking or cycling and for all audiences. No specific route or pace is prescribed, so you can explore the trails as a theme in its own right alongside the historic sites.

Nature watching also has a place in the area around Peralada: alder trees, kingfishers and otters are among the species found in the nature observation area along the Orlina. The Orlina and Llobregat are included in protected areas within the Natura 2000 network and PEIN. Together with the park and trails, they offer different ways to shape your stay: medieval architecture, wine, the festival or nature.

Discover more destinations: Brunyola, Osor, Riudellots De La Selva, Pau, Les Llosses, Ripoll, Sant Mori, Foixà

For the broader travel overview: Girona.