There are two ways to get to know Madremanya: through its historic centre with its former gates, and along trails, each with its own focus. The “El nucli antic” walking tour passes through the west gate into the old town; other routes lead through forests and fields, to the historic centre of Millars, or to Font Picant via a detour. Sant Esteve adds a late Romanesque church to the picture of Madremanya. When planning, it is helpful to consider the town walk, the church and the routes as distinct topics.

Old Town: Walking Tour and Two Gates

The “El nucli antic” walking tour is a straightforward introduction to the old town. It starts in the car park in front of Travessera de Sant Esteve and passes through the town wall’s west gate into the historic centre. The old town can be entered through two former gates: the west gate is on Carrer de Sant Esteve, and the north gate is on Plaça de Quatre Vents. Note the similar-sounding names: the car park at the starting point is in front of the Travessera, while the west gate is on the Carrer. This helps distinguish the starting point, the gate and the second former entrance.

Sant Esteve: Late Romanesque Architecture

Sant Esteve de Madremanya is a building from the late Romanesque period and is notable for its exceptionally wide single-nave layout. The nave is 8.5 metres wide, and the apse is almost semicircular. “Single-nave” describes the layout, with one nave, while the measurement gives a precise indication of its unusual width. The late Romanesque classification identifies the style; the width and apse describe the structure. The building can therefore be viewed from two perspectives: as an example of an art-historical period and through its specific architectural form.

Routes with Different Highlights

The routes differ mainly in their respective highlights. “Al peu de Gavarres” leads through the forests of the Gavarres and cultivated fields. On the Route dels Pobles de Madremanya, the historic centre of Millars is the named destination. The route from Madremanya to Montnegre reaches Font Picant via a 500-metre detour from the trail. When choosing a route, first consider whether you are more interested in the scenery along the way, a historic destination or a detour to a specific area.

Font Picant and Festa Major

Font Picant lies in the southeast of the municipality of Madremanya and includes a spring and the remains of a former water-bottling plant. When considering the detour, you can weigh up two points of interest: the spring and the remains of the former bottling plant. Both are part of the description of the same area.

The events calendar may also influence your choice of travel dates: the Festa Major de Madremanya takes place on the first weekend in August. The exact programme may vary from year to year, so check the dates and announced events for your year before travelling.

Sant Iscle was originally the church of Millars Castle.

Discover more destinations: Sant Jordi Desvalls, Setcases, Sales De Llierca, Figueres, Ullastret, Fontanals De Cerdanya, Isòvol, Vilanova de la Muga

For the broader travel overview: Girona.