Vilajoan between the Fluvià, the parish church and the castle

Vilajoan is shaped by two geographical landmarks: the Fluvià, which runs through the village, and the sequence of the parish church and castle. Farmhouses and houses are scattered across flat terrain between the church on the northern edge of the village and the castle, about 300 metres farther south. These specific landmarks help make sense of the village layout.

Village setting between the river, church and castle

The streets of Vilajoan are designated as an urban historic centre and a place of interest. Together with the church and castle, they form a distinct aspect of finding your way around the village: the streetscape, as well as the individual buildings, is part of the historic centre described here.

Santa Maria de Vilajoan is a religious building with two rectangular naves. Each nave has an apse; transverse arches connect the two naves. Remains of Romanesque wall paintings have been preserved in the northern choir. One specific date in the church’s history is 1093, when Santa Maria de Vilajoan was transferred to the Augustinian priory of Santa Maria de Lledó.

The castle is a large fortified manor house with battlements and machicolations. These features are arranged around a small courtyard at the foot of a square tower. The church and castle also differ in function: Santa Maria is a religious building, while the castle is a fortified manor house. Their locations also establish the village’s north–south orientation.

Historical connections to Vilajoan

Two personal stories are also connected with Vilajoan. After arriving from Barcelona on a Vespa, Fabià Puigserver settled here; Vilajoan was the first village where he made his home. Ferran Sunyer spent the long summers of almost his entire life at the Can Sunyer country estate in Vilajoan. The connections are different: Puigserver’s story centres on his arrival in the village, while Sunyer’s is about his long-standing summer stays at the estate.

Getting there and cycling

The directions describe a route from the N-II to Vilajoan: heading towards the border, after Bàscara and the Fluvià, a 1.5-kilometre road leads to the village. This provides a specific reference point for planning your journey. Vilajoan is also marked on a cycling map of Alt Empordà, along with the 29.5-kilometre Ruta cicloturística del Fluvià. Check current route conditions and signage before setting out on a bike ride.

Local events and public spaces

The 2026 edition of Vilajoan’s Festa Major included a traditional communal dinner, followed by live music. If an event date is important to your trip, check the programme in advance.

Work to improve the public space at Font de Vilajoan was completed on 5 May 2026. The project aimed to enhance the area and strengthen its role as a place for community gatherings. Together with the Festa Major, this example shows that the local character can be understood not only through historic buildings, but also through shared public spaces and events.

For the broader travel overview: Garrigàs.