Ullà: Local History and Walks Across the Plain

Ullà combines insights into the town’s history with a landscape that can be explored on a circular walk across the plain. Highlights include the church of Santa Maria d’Ullà, historic streets and buildings, and paths through apple orchards towards the River Ter. When planning your trip, you can weigh up local history, literature and time outdoors.

The Plain, the Ter and the Montgrí

Ullà is located in the Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter. A prominent landmark in the Montgrí massif is Muntanya d’Ullà, whose summit stands 307.9 metres high. These details provide a tangible context for the landscape-focused part of your trip, without requiring you to follow a particular route.

The circular route across the plain of Ullà and to the Ter weir passes through apple orchards and approaches the River Ter. Along the way, the plain’s cultivated landscape meets the river environment. La Resclosa, built in 1679, is also on the route. Another historic site along the circular route is a small air-raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War. It is near the airfield’s control hut.

There is free parking for more than 30 vehicles at the Ullà roundabout on the C-31, next to Carrer Major. Its location and capacity are useful points of reference when planning to take the circular route. This landscape-focused option can be weighed against a visit to the historic streets and buildings.

Church and Historic Streets

Santa Maria d’Ullà was consecrated in 1804, replacing Sant Andreu as the parish church. The church is neoclassical in style. Its cruciform floor plan is complemented by a large dome above the transept. The transept forms the cross-arm of the church’s cruciform plan, with the dome creating a distinct architectural feature above it. Its consecration, its predecessor as the parish church and its design offer different ways to appreciate the building.

The street layout also reveals specific historical connections. Carrer Jeroni Pujol is a narrow, winding street linking Carrer Major and Carrer de Sant Antoni. On Carrer de la Muntanya stands a portal that probably belonged to the gates of Ullà’s medieval fortified centre.

The date refers to the present-day design of Font d’Ullà square, which may date from the 15th or 16th century. Together with the portal and the street, it offers a different perspective on Ullà from the circular walk across the plain.

Mas Xiquet and Its Literary Connection

Mas Xiquet is a large farmhouse with two arcaded galleries at Ullà’s highest point. The building is also associated with the writer Víctor Català: her stays at Mas Xiquet and her familiarity with the Montgrí massif inspired the modernist novel Solitud in 1905. This connection leads from a specific place to the literary landscape of the Montgrí, without claiming that the novel is set exclusively there.

Prehistory and Recent History

The prehistory of the mountains is also among the topics associated with Ullà. Prehistoric tools and remains of animals hunted by Homo heidelbergensis have been found at Cau del Duc d’Ullà and other sites in the mountains. People of this species spent time there.

The options make it easy to choose a focus: the circular route explores the plain, the apple orchards and the area’s connection with the Ter; the historic centre offers architecture, streets and building history.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Fontanilles, Els Hostalets D'en Bas, Jafre, Vilabertran, Cistella, El Prat de Llobregat, Ripoll, Santa Llogaia del Terri

For the main travel overview: Girona.