Vilabertran between architecture and the Horta landscape
Accommodation in Vilabertran
When looking for a hotel in Vilabertran, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: medieval architecture, the landscape or local food traditions. The town offers clear points of interest for each – Santa Maria de Vilabertran, the waterwheels of the plain and the horta, shaped by vegetable growing. This makes it easy to base your travel plans on specific interests.
Santa Maria and the town’s architecture
Santa Maria de Vilabertran is one of Catalonia’s best-preserved examples of the medieval architecture of communities of Augustinian canons. For travellers interested in architectural history, it offers a clearly defined point of reference: the focus is a distinct medieval building type. Another notable cultural feature is the Cross of Vilabertran, the largest processional cross made of silverwork in Catalonia. Alongside the architecture, it offers a second, distinct perspective on local cultural history.
The Torre d’en Reig offers a different architectural accent. It is a detached building in the town centre, surrounded by a garden. This makes it easy to distinguish from Santa Maria: the Torre’s defining features are its detached structure and immediate garden setting, while Santa Maria represents the architecture of communities of Augustinian canons. These differences give travellers interested in cultural history specific themes around which to plan their stay.
Walking through the SĂnies landscape
The SĂnies de Vilabertran comprise more than twenty waterwheels on the plain, some of which are well preserved. Visitors can explore the SĂnies on foot along the circular route of the same name. These two details offer different kinds of orientation: the number and distribution describe the landscape, while the circular route provides a way to explore it on foot. If you are looking for a walk to complement your visits to the buildings, this is a clear point of reference.
The horta also shapes the landscape: vegetable growing, cypress hedges and fields form a distinctive whole. The hedges protect the fields from the Tramuntana wind. At the same time, the horta makes local quality produce possible and helps preserve the countryside and native species. These offer two different perspectives on the landscape: the route to the waterwheels and the Horta landscape shaped by agriculture.
Fira and poma de relleno
The Fira de l’Horta i la Poma de “relleno” has been held in Vilabertran since 2000, on the third weekend of September. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the current edition before travelling.
Apples with firm, dense flesh that can withstand long cooking are used to make poma de relleno. Traditionally, the dish is cooked slowly over two to three days, in several stages. The Fira provides a point of reference for when to visit; the preparation method explains a distinctive feature of the local product. These are two different reasons to take an interest in local food traditions.
Getting there and parking
You can take a taxi to Vilabertran from Figueres–Vilafant AVE/TGV station. A shuttle runs to Figueres station, where you can rent a vehicle. Check transport connections before travelling so you can plan the arrangements relevant to your arrival.
Vilabertran has several free car parks in the area around the Canònica. Since availability and regulations may change, check them locally. The information about parking and getting there complements the guidance on what to see: whether your main interest is Santa Maria, the circular route or the Horta landscape, check the relevant travel information in advance.
Discover more destinations: Peralada, Riudellots De La Selva, GarrigĂ s, Cantallops, VentallĂł, Meranges, La Vall De Bianya, Llers
For the main travel overview: Girona.
