Fares: Church History and River Route

Fares offers several points of interest for a trip: one focus is the history of Santa Maria de Fares and the Fortificació de Fares, while another is the Camí de les Rescloses along the Fluvià. The area is also connected with Garrotxa cuisine and the Aplec dels Fares.

Church History of Santa Maria de Fares

Santa Maria de Fares has been documented since 977. At that time, it was transferred as a subsidiary church to the collegiate church of Santa Maria de Besalú. The original building was Romanesque and was later altered. The early record and the Romanesque origins are distinct historical points of reference: one concerns the church’s documented status, while the other relates to its architectural history. Santa Maria de Fares was also the parish church of Fares until the village was incorporated into the parish of Sant Vicenç de Besalú. Both its architectural development and its former ecclesiastical role are therefore part of understanding this place.

Fortificació de Fares and Archaeological Finds

The Fortificació de Fares is on a small hill east of Santa Maria de Fares. The remains visible today include a perimeter wall and a rectangular room or tower. The wall remains suggest a probably military structure; however, its layout and date remain uncertain.

Three Palaeolithic tools were found in Fares in 1973. A report from 2020 also described the remains of a medieval fortified house covering approximately 500 square metres, which had been discovered during archaeological work. According to that report at the time, the remains were to be covered until further excavations. The periods differ: the tools are Palaeolithic, while the fortified house is medieval; because its date is uncertain, the Fortificació cannot be placed in this sequence.

The Camí de les Rescloses along the Fluvià

The Camí de les Rescloses is another point of interest, as a walking route. It is about 4 km long and follows the Fluvià upstream to the Reserva de Fauna Salvatge de l’Illa de Fares. You can walk it in either direction. Holm oak and pine forests line one side of the route, and riverside vegetation the other. Its approximate distance, the river’s course and its destination provide different points of reference: the distance indicates the route’s length, while the river and the protected area identify its direction and endpoint.

Garrotxa Cuisine and Aplec dels Fares

L’Arcada de Fares serves typical Garrotxa cuisine with modern touches. If particular dishes matter to you, check the latest information, as menu details may change. The Aplec dels Fares is associated with 15 August and the Mare de Déu d’Agost festival. If this festival is relevant to your travel plans, check the specific event dates before your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Sant Ferriol.