At the foot of 546-metre Montcal lies Maiá de Montcal; the Fluvià River flows through the town. This brings two distinct geographical landmarks together: the mountain at the foot of the town and the river running through Maiá. Churches, historical details and rural routes offer further points of interest. So if you choose a destination for its cultural and landscape themes, you’ll find more than just one perspective here.

Landscape and views

The Church of Santa Maria de Jonqueres, also called Santa Magdalena, offers views of the Empordà plain, the Bay of Roses and part of Cap de Creus. These three sights represent different scales: a plain, a bay and part of Cap de Creus. How far you can see depends on the weather.

Another landmark is Font Pudosa. It is listed as a point of interest on two local Itinerànnia circular routes. In contrast to the wide-ranging views, it is a specifically named point for route orientation. Montcal, the Fluvià, the viewpoint and the circular routes each provide a distinct connection to the landscape, without describing the same experience.

Churches and historical traces

The Church of Sant Vicenç is located in the historic centre, in the neighbourhood known as veïnat de la Cellera, and dates from the 12th century. A wrought-iron latch dating probably from the same period as the church has been preserved on its door. This brings together a building assigned to a specific period and a single detail whose dating is explicitly only probable.

The Church of Sant Martí de Dosquers is described differently in architectural terms: it is a Romanesque single-nave church with a semicircular apse. Single-nave describes a layout with one main nave; the apse is the semicircular part of the church. Dosquers was once an independent settlement and was later incorporated into Maiá de Montcal. The remains of a castle are part of the historic ensemble. The pre-Romanesque bridge at Dosquers is also listed as a cultural asset of local interest. These terms classify the buildings in different ways: Sant Vicenç is assigned to a century, Sant Martí is described as Romanesque, and the bridge as pre-Romanesque.

Routes with different focuses

The Ruta del romaní is a cycling route suitable for the whole family, through a rural landscape of fields and farmhouses. Its focus differs from that of the churches and their architectural history: here, cycling and the agricultural landscape take centre stage. Trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.

El balcó de la Garrotxa is accessible with assistance or using a handbike, except for the climb to the church. Take this exception into account when planning. Route 124 is marked with yellow Itinerànnia signs. A description published in February 2023 presents the morning Route 124 in the area around Maiá de Montcal in La Garrotxa, leading to the summit of Puig de Santa Magdalena.

A simple distinction can help you choose between the interests described: the churches and bridge offer historical and architectural details, while the Ruta del romaní is a cycling tour through the rural landscape. The view from Santa Maria de Jonqueres, meanwhile, takes in the plain, bay and Cap de Creus. This lets you choose Maiá de Montcal according to what interests you most on your trip, while taking the respective trail conditions into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Rabós, Olot, Cruïlles, La Bisbal D'empordà, Das, L’escala, Fontcoberta, Brunyola.

Return to the main travel overview: Girona.