Avinyonet de Puigventós brings together several distinct travel highlights: Roman and medieval history, a Romanesque chapel, and restored ponds in the Manol river area. Its historical heritage spans the period from the Roman villa to medieval religious-order and fortification buildings. The Festa Major de Sant Jaume, celebrated during the week of 25 July, is another factor to consider when choosing when to visit. You can therefore plan your stay around history, landscape or a festival date.

Roman and Medieval Traces

Castell de la Comanda Hospitalera is a fortification in the County of Besalú, documented since the 11th century. In the 13th century, this medieval fortified house became the centre of a commandery of the Order of St John. The building thus brings together two historical aspects: its classification as a fortification and its later role as the centre of a religious order’s establishment. Visitors interested in the Middle Ages can connect the building’s history with that of the Order of St John.

The Vil·la romana de la Font del Vilar covers a different and considerably longer period: it was in use 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 dates illustrate two different time scales: the villa’s long period of use and the approximate construction date of the bath building. It is this combination of a residential area and an adjoining bath that makes the Roman heritage tangible.

Ermita de Santa Eugènia is a single-nave Romanesque chapel, probably dating from the 11th century. Its architectural form differs from that of the fortified house: the chapel adds Romanesque architecture and a probable 11th-century date to the area’s historical highlights.

El Castellot preserves the remains of a slightly oval tower on a small hill above the confluence of the Manol and Rissec rivers. Its description combines two specific clues: the slightly oval ground plan and its position above the meeting point of two rivers. The area’s historical heritage therefore includes fortifications and a chapel, as well as the remains of a surviving tower.

Landscape and Natural Areas

La Garriga d'Empordà covers around 1,245 hectares and stretches across Llers, Avinyonet de Puigventós, Vilanant, Biure and Pont de Molins. The Estanyols de Mas Margall form a smaller, more clearly defined natural area: they lie within the municipality of Avinyonet de Puigventós, in the Manol river area, and cover around 20 hectares. The two areas therefore differ both in scale and in geographical extent.

The Estanyols de Mas Margall are a restored former gravel pit. Landscape features there include two small ponds, a willow grove, wet grassland and rush beds, as well as a dry pasture. This variety makes the area interesting to travellers who want to include different landscape types alongside architectural history. The focus here is not on individual animal species, but on the habitats described and their mix of wet and dry areas.

Plan Festivals, Routes and Getting There

Avinyonet de Puigventós’s Festa Major de Sant Jaume is celebrated during the week of 25 July, the feast day of Saint James. If you want to plan your travel dates around the festival, check the specific event dates before making plans. This allows you to choose your visit dates to coincide with the festival without assuming a particular programme.

For mountain biking, BTT Route 15, “Las Garrigas,” offers two possible starting points: Avinyonet de Puigventós or Vilanant. Choosing a starting point is therefore an important part of planning; check current route conditions before setting out. The Ruta cultural d'Avinyonet is planned as a circular route that would connect monuments and archaeological remains in the historic centre, the Mas Pau settlement and the hamlet of Santa Eugènia.

Avinyonet de Puigventós is listed on TEISA’s Banyoles–Figueres interurban bus line, with stops at “A. de Puigventós-URB. Mas Pau” and “Avinyonet de Puigventós Cruïlla”; the line continues to Figueres. Check the current timetable before travelling, as routes and times may change.

Discover more destinations: Siurana, Figueres, Santa Pau, Cassà De La Selva, Puigcerdá, Navata, La Selva de Mar, Les Pereres.

For the broader travel overview: Girona.