Castelló d’Empúries can be explored through several distinct themes: a Gothic church, structural remains of a count’s castle, a converted mill and a natural area that lies mostly within the municipality. When choosing your destination, you can therefore consider whether to focus primarily on architectural history, the history of technology, a cultural festival or the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà.
Cultural history in specific buildings
The medieval Cúria i Presó complex was built from 1336 onwards on Puig Mercadal. It preserves architectural remains of the count’s castle of Castelló d'Empúries. The complex’s location and the surviving castle remains connect a specific building history with the former count’s castle.
The Basílica de Santa Maria is a Gothic church dating from the 12th to the 15th century. Construction of the Gothic church began in 1261 and continued well into the 15th century. On 4 April 2006, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Santa Maria to the status of a minor basilica. Taken together, these details provide different historical points of reference: construction began in the 13th century, while building work continued well into the 15th century, and its elevation to a minor basilica was a later, precisely dated event.
Mill, watercourse and cultural routes
The Ecomuseu Farinera is an early 20th-century mill that has been converted into a museum. It preserves the machinery used to process wheat into flour. Alongside the medieval buildings, the history of milling technology is therefore also in focus. The Ecomuseu Farinera also preserves the Rec del Molí, a medieval water channel that begins at the weir in Vilanova de la Muga. The mill, machinery and water channel thus offer different ways to explore local history.
Cultural routes also place these themes in a broader context. Castelló d'Empúries is included in Cultural Heritage Route No. 7, “El Comtat d'Empúries I: les antigues capitals”. The Museu d'Història Medieval de la Cúria-Presó is also part of the Ruta del Pirineu Comtal cultural and tourist route. These two route connections offer different ways to put the cultural heritage into context: one follows the former capitals of the County of Empúries, while the other includes the museum in a cultural and tourist route.
The festival and natural area offer other points of focus
Terra de Trobadors is a recurring cultural festival featuring historical reenactments in Castelló d'Empúries. The 34th edition was scheduled for 11, 12 and 13 September 2026. The programme was set to include historical reenactments, music, theatre, a medieval market, family activities and conferences in the municipality’s streets and historic areas. Dates and programme details may change; if a future festival visit is central to your travel plans, check the latest information.
The Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà offers a different focus. It lies mostly within the municipality of Castelló d'Empúries and coincides with the remains of the former Lake of Castelló. Cultural and historical attractions and a natural area are therefore found side by side within the municipality. When choosing a destination, you can weigh up whether to shape your stay primarily around buildings and museum history or around nature.
Discover more destinations: Empuriabrava, Massanes, Saus, Camallera i Llampaies:Camallera, Sant Jordi Desvalls, Vidreres, Sant Miquel de Cladells, Isòvol, Albons.
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
