Pelacalç: Traces of the Castle and Romanesque Architectural Heritage

History

The present-day settlement of Pelacalç emerged in connection with the destruction of the castle during the Reapers’ War; before that, in the 16th century, the castle was owned by the Margarit family.

The castle of Pelacalç has been documented since the beginning of the 14th century. A record from 1227 already mentions a Ramon de “Pelacals”.

During the Reapers’ War in 1640, Castilian troops burned down and looted the castle and church of Pelacalç.

Remains of the castle wall are visible from Carrer de Can Picó. In a short surviving section, the castle wall forms an angle with another fragment of wall.

This section shows the springing of a vaulted passage and possibly the remains of a fortified gateway. The farmhouses of Pelacalç were built over the remains of this castle in the 16th and, above all, the 17th century.

Architectural Heritage in the Hamlet

Pelacalç is a compact hamlet. It consists of a few farmhouses and the Capella de l’Assumpta.

The Capella de l’Assumpta has now been converted into a dwelling. It was built partly with stones from the castle of Pelacalç.

Can Joanmiquel is one of the oldest farmhouses in Pelacalç. Today, the building bears the name Can Saló.

Can Mallol is one of the most notable farmhouses in the village. Can Picó has a Gothic-Renaissance window.

Several coats of arms were discovered on the walls of Can Costal; they have not yet been studied.

The individual clues can be attributed to different buildings and locations in the hamlet. These include the remains of the wall on Carrer de Can Picó, the farmhouses with their traditional features, and the chapel converted for residential use. Santa Maria de l’Om completes this local landscape as a sacred site in the plain.

The Plain and Sacred Sites

The riverside area of the Fluvià extends to the former wetlands of Pelacalç. The road from Viladamat to Castelló d’Empúries passes through Pelacalç.

Santa Maria de l’Om is now a Marian shrine or hermitage. The site belongs to the parish of Sant Sadurní de Montiró.

Santa Maria de l’Om was formerly the parish church of the hamlet of Pelacalç. The surviving Romanesque elements suggest a construction date in the 11th century.

The Marian shrine lies one kilometre northeast of Pelacalç. Santa Maria de l’Om is also located in the middle of the plain near Pelacalç.

Between Pelacalç and Montiró, a good path branches off from the road to Santa Maria de l’Om. The historic Aplec de la Mare de Déu de l’Om was celebrated on 15 August.

Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Pelacalç can use the place name as a natural search term and location reference when planning their trip.

To the general travel overview: Ventalló.