Juià: Castle and Local History

Juià lies in the north of the Gavarres. If you are looking for hotels for a stay in Juià, the town’s history and the routes described here provide specific points to help you choose: the focus is on Castell de Juià, the parish church of Sant Pere, the chapel of Sant Joan de l’Erm, and routes through the town or its surroundings. This can help you decide whether history, architecture, or outdoor activity matters most for your trip.

Landscape

A wooded part of the municipality extends onto Muntanya de Àngels. The part of the municipality near the Ter River is flat. Thus, the landscape descriptions refer to both a wooded area and flat terrain near the Ter.

Castle and local history

Castell de Juià brings together several layers of local history. Medieval documents mention the castle as early as the beginning of the 11th century in connection with the County of Girona. Juià’s historical origins are linked to the castle, which was called “Castrum Julianum.” It also belonged to a group of fortifications in the foothills of the Gavarres that belonged to the Diocese of Girona. The defensive moat that once surrounded the castle remains around its ruins.

Church and Sant Joan de l’Erm

The parish church of Sant Pere offers a different historical reference point: it is a Renaissance building from the 17th century. The original building may have been Gothic.

A community of lay religious women existed at the chapel of Sant Joan de l’Erm in 1276. After floods in 1327 affected their monastery, the community of Matella and Sant Joan de l’Erm eventually settled there. It may have been a single community of nuns from Santa Coloma de Matella. The plague of 1348 left only one surviving nun at Sant Joan de l’Erm. The year 1276, the settlement following the floods of 1327, and the plague of 1348 mark different stages in this history.

Walking routes

The Itineraris Saludables run through the town center and its surroundings. They are permanently signposted and are intended to encourage moderate physical activity, especially walking. A route description published on September 25, 2024, for Route 147 Sant Martí Vell–Juià–Castell de Juià describes it as an easy circular walk through Juià; details about the route and time required should be treated as estimates. The descriptions therefore differ mainly in the Itineraris’ explicitly stated purpose of walking and the circular nature of Route 147.

A 2023 tour description mentions a metal walkway at the castle ruins leading to the upper section. Check local conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: L'Alt Empordà, Vilobí D'onyar, Sils, Forallac, Garriguella, Camós, Regencós, Pont De Molins

For the main travel overview: Girona.