Cistella: Culture, Landscape and Holiday Apartments

In Cistella, the old town preserves its urban structure from the 16th and 17th centuries with only minor changes.

Culture

Santa Maria de Cistella has a Romanesque portal. It features five stepped archivolts with rounded arches and four columns with intricately carved capitals.

Santa Maria de Cistella preserves a significant sculptural ensemble on its portal and at one window.

The Mare de Déu de Vida Sanctuary was built in 1429 in honour of Saint Michael. It was completely rebuilt in the 17th century. Only the apse remains of the original building.

The Mare de Déu de Vida Sanctuary offers sweeping views across large parts of the Empordà and over the village of Cistella.

The historical details are therefore distributed across different buildings and periods. At Santa Maria de Cistella, the Romanesque forms of the portal, archivolts, columns and capitals are directly visible in the building. At the sanctuary, the preserved apse points to the original building, while the 17th-century reconstruction marks a later construction phase.

The Church of Sant Martí in Vilaritg has been documented since 1151. Romanesque fragments have been preserved inside it.

Landscape

The village of Vilaritg lies on a hill in the upper reaches of the Riera de Vilaritg stream.

Vilaritg retains an old-world character. The villagescape includes traditional architectural features of buildings from the 15th to the 18th century.

Cycling Routes

The MTB Trail 20 Cistella–Lladó is 13.93 kilometres long. The route is of moderate difficulty and is designed as a circular trail.

The MTB Trail 20 Cistella–Lladó can be started in Cistella or Lladó. It connects mountain, plain and river landscapes.

The MTB Trail 22 Cistella–Vilarig–Terrades follows the GR-2 as far as Vilarig. It then returns to Cistella on a gentle descent from the west.

This places two differently described routes side by side: Trail 20 is a circular route through mountain, plain and river landscapes, while Trail 22 follows the GR-2 via Vilarig and Terrades before descending westwards to Cistella. The stated length of 13.93 kilometres and the moderate difficulty rating apply directly to Trail 20.

Other places: Ultramort, Sant Miquel d'Aro, Els Hostalets D'en Bas, Portbou, Arbúcies, Pont De Molins, Planoles and Pau.

Local Highlights

Cistella holds the Bread Market every spring.

Various types of bread are offered for sale at the Bread Market. Typical cured meats and cheeses are also available.

Handicrafts are also offered for sale at the Bread Market.

The Mas Vida Celler winery is located in the municipality of Cistella. It is situated next to the Mare de Déu de Vida hermitage.

The Bread Market therefore brings together different product categories seasonally: types of bread, typical cured meats and cheeses are offered alongside handicrafts. As a winery, Mas Vida Celler is one of the local features mentioned and is located next to the Mare de Déu de Vida hermitage.

For the higher-level travel overview: Girona.