Vilajoan: Discover the Castle and Church

The castle of Vilajoan is a fortified building in Garrigàs. The large fortified manor house has battlements and machicolations. These elements are arranged around a small courtyard. The courtyard is located at the foot of a square tower. Thus, both the defensive features on the exterior and the arrangement around the courtyard form part of the complex’s traditional appearance. The Fluvià River runs through Vilajoan.

Villagescape

The farmhouses and houses of Vilajoan are scattered across level ground between the parish church on the northern edge of the village and the castle, located around 300 metres farther south. The villagescape is therefore shaped by the sequence of residential buildings, church and fortified manor house. The municipality lists the streets of Vilajoan as an urban centre and a place of interest.

Culture

Santa Maria de Vilajoan is a religious sacred building in Garrigàs. The building consists of two rectangular naves. Each of the two naves has an apse. Transverse arches connect the two naves, making the two-part layout visible inside as well. In the northern chancel, Santa Maria de Vilajoan preserves remnants of wall paintings. These wall paintings are Romanesque. In 1093, Santa Maria de Vilajoan was transferred to the Augustinian priory of Santa Maria de Lledó. The church thus combines its surviving architectural features with a documented historical connection.

History

Vilajoan was the first village where Fabià Puigserver settled after arriving from Barcelona on a Vespa. Ferran Sunyer spent the long summers of almost his entire life at the Can Sunyer country estate in Vilajoan. The two names are therefore connected with different personal chapters in the village’s history: Puigserver with his arrival and first settlement, and Sunyer with his long summer stays at Can Sunyer.

Paths and Cycling Map

A 1.5-kilometre-long path leads to Vilajoan from the N-II. The path leads towards Bàscara and the Fluvià in the direction of the border. Vilajoan is marked on a cycling map of Alt Empordà. The Ruta cicloturística del Fluvià is also shown there together with the village. The map gives a length of 29.5 kilometres for this route. The map therefore indicates both access via the path and Vilajoan’s integration into a designated cycling route in Alt Empordà.

Public Spaces and Festivals

Work to improve the public space at the Font de Vilajoan was completed on 5 May 2026. The measure was intended to enhance this location and strengthen it as a space for community gatherings. In 2026, the Festa Major of Vilajoan included a traditional communal dinner. Live music followed. The Fabià Puigserver Festival was founded to keep his vision of independent, eclectic theatre alive. Thus, alongside the architectural heritage, the villagescape also includes a public meeting place, a village festival and a festival with its own cultural connection.

For the higher-level travel overview: Garrigàs.