Avinyonet De Puigventós: Castle, Roman Villa and Landscape

The Castell de la Comanda Hospitalera leads deep into the history of Avinyonet De Puigventós. The fortification of the County of Besalú has been documented since the 11th century. In the 13th century, the medieval fortified house of the Castell de la Comanda Hospitalera became the centre of a commandery of the Order of St John. This historic site therefore brings together a military function and the history of the order.

History

The Roman past is also connected with a specific architectural complex. The Vil·la romana de la Font del Vilar was in operation from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. Its residential area, the pars urbana, includes a small adjoining bath building, constructed around the 2nd century AD. The villa's history thus spans several centuries, while the bath complemented the residential area with a Roman facility for personal care.

The historical character of Avinyonet De Puigventós also includes the Ermita de Santa Eugènia and El Castellot. The Ermita de Santa Eugènia is a single-nave Romanesque chapel, probably dating from the 11th century. El Castellot preserves the remains of a slightly oval tower on a small hill above the confluence of the Manol and Rissec. The chapel and the tower remains thus represent different forms of medieval architectural and settlement history.

Nature

The La Garriga d'Empordà landscape covers approximately 1,245 hectares and extends across the municipalities of Llers, Avinyonet de Puigventós, Vilanant, Biure and Pont de Molins. Its area therefore extends beyond a single municipality and forms a larger landscape region in the Empordà.

The Estanyols de Mas Margall are located in the municipality of Avinyonet de Puigventós, in the Manol river area. The site covers approximately 20 hectares. The Estanyols de Mas Margall are a restored former gravel pit with two small ponds, willow woodland, wet grassland and rush stands, as well as a dry pasture area. Water surfaces, woodland, wet meadows and dry pasture are clearly defined components here of a former extraction site that has been restored.

Other destinations at the same level are Salitja, Riells i Viabrea, Tossa De Mar, Navata, Queralbs, Palamós, Canet D'adri and Susqueda.

Events and Routes

A fixed date in the annual calendar is the Festa Major de Sant Jaume of Avinyonet de Puigventós. It is celebrated during the week of 25 July, the feast day of Saint James. For cycling, BTT Route 15, “Las Garrigas”, is listed; it starts in Avinyonet de Puigventós or Vilanant.

As a cultural connection through the various historical areas, the Ruta cultural d'Avinyonet is planned as a circular route. It would connect the monuments and archaeological remains in the historic centre of Avinyonet de Puigventós, in the Mas Pau settlement and in the Santa Eugènia district. Thus, alongside the individual buildings, the three aforementioned areas of the town and its settlements are included in a shared route plan.

Getting there

Avinyonet de Puigventós is listed on the TEISA interurban bus line Banyoles–Figueres, with the stops “A. de Puigventós-URB. Mas Pau” and “Avinyonet de Puigventós Cruïlla”. The listed line continues to Figueres.

For the higher-level travel overview: Girona.