Ventalló between river landscapes and cultural heritage

Nature and water

Ventalló forms a transitional area between the forests of Terraprim and the farmland of the plain. The area follows the banks of the Fluvià to the former wetlands of Pelacalç. Els Gorgs de Valveralla are artificial lakes currently used for water skiing. The Xavi Mill Water Ski Centre is based at these artificial lakes.

Other linked places: Castelló D’empúries, Garrigàs, La Pera, Capmany, Salitja, Sant Hilari Sacalm and Joanetes.

Archaeology and history

There have been settlements in the Ventalló area since the Neolithic period. Archaeological sites dating from the 1st century BC to the 8th century have been documented in Ventalló. All the traditional centres of the municipality of Ventalló have been documented since the 10th and 11th centuries and belonged to the County of Empúries.

Ventalló was documented as a castle in the 10th century. In the historic centre, traces of the former wall and several towers can be seen in the courtyards of Carrer del Mar. Casa del Delme preserves the course of part of the former castle perimeter; embrasures are visible there from Plaça Major.

Can Perramon is a 17th-century building that was once the residence of the lords of Ventalló. Today, Can Perramon houses the Fundació Perramon. The museum contains more than 150 works of contemporary art, mainly paintings and sculptures.

Historic centres and buildings

In Pelacalç, remains of the former castle wall can be seen from Carrer de Can Picó. Pelacalç Castle has been documented since the beginning of the 14th century. Can Picó has a Gothic-Renaissance window, while the Capella de l’Assumpta contains stones from Pelacalç Castle. Can Joanmiquel, now called Can Saló, is one of the oldest farmhouses in Pelacalç.

The church of Sant Vicenç in the centre of Valveralla dates from 1721. Can Marisch is a Gothic-Renaissance manor house from the 16th century and is now used for rural tourism. Valveralla also preserves a compact centre with buildings dating from the 16th to the 18th century.

Santa Eugènia de Saldet is a small Romanesque church that was enlarged in the 19th century. Can Clarà is a farmhouse dating from 1570 with a portal made of wedge-shaped voussoirs. Today, only the Romanesque apse of the original church of Sant Sadurní de Montiró is visible; the building was extensively remodelled.

Ca l’Isern is the former palace of the Margarit family in the centre of Montiró. Montiró’s present-day architectural ensemble consists of around a dozen farmhouses surrounding the church of Sant Sadurní. Can Bagué in Els Masos has been documented in church registers since the 16th century. The former Font Peregrina lies west of the centre of Els Masos.

Culture

Since ancient times, Saldet has been a crossing point where a Roman road from Fortià and el Far crossed the river towards Empúries. The old church of Sant Andreu in Vila-robau preserves traces of Romanesque paintings inside and was probably built in the 10th century. In Ventalló, the new church of Sant Miquel was built over an earlier church before the end of the 10th century.

La Ventallonina starts and ends at Parc de la Bassa. Pelacalç has a programme of events for the Festa Major and the 38th Aplec de la Mare de Déu de l’Om. The village festival Sopar dels Masos has been jointly maintained by the residents of Masos for many years.

To the overarching travel overview: Girona.