Medieval buildings, wine and a summer festival offer several distinct ways to experience Peralada. When planning your overnight stay, you can first decide whether local history, wine culture or an event date should be the focus. Walking and cycling routes and nature watching complement these themes. The historical remains range from Romanesque monastic architecture to a fortified enclosure; the museum and winery explore wine culture from different perspectives.
Medieval traces in the town
Plaza Gran has been the heart of Peralada since the Middle Ages. From Portal del Comte, you can trace another stage in the town’s history: it was the main gateway to the second fortified enclosure, built in the last decade of the 13th century. The Romanesque cloister of Sant Domènec dates from the 12th century and is the surviving remnant of an Augustinian monastery founded in the second half of the 11th century. The surviving cloister is therefore younger than the monastery’s foundation; the building is also open to the public.
Finds and collections also tell the story of Peralada’s past. Twenty-five gold coins from the 15th century were discovered during excavations at the medieval hospital. They are on display at the Centre de Turisme Cultural Sant Domènec. The Peralada Library holds 80,000 volumes and traces its origins to the library of the Counts of Peralada. Together with the buildings, these offer different perspectives: on the history of a monastic complex, on the fortifications, and on historical objects and collections.
Wine culture between museum and winery
The Museu del Castell de Peralada is housed in a former 14th-century Carmelite monastery. It includes a wine museum with objects relating to the different stages of wine culture. The museum was established in the 1960s in a cellar where Peralada wines had previously been made. The former production site and the exhibits thus connect the history of wine with its production.
The Nueva Bodega Perelada offers a different perspective: RCR Arquitectes designed the building, which is considered Europe’s first winery to receive LEED Gold sustainability certification. A visit includes a tasting of three Perelada wines. As visit options and tasting packages may change, check them before making your plans. For a meal, Wine Bar Celler 1923 is another option: it serves traditional dishes in the style of 1923, paired with wines from the Perelada estate. Check the reservation information in advance, too.
Festival and seasonal planning
The Festival Perelada takes place in July and August in the medieval castle complex and was founded in 1987. If you would like to combine your trip with the festival, check the specific event dates. This will help you decide whether to focus your stay on the medieval complex or the other historical sites.
Routes and nature
Peralada has various routes and circular trails for walking or cycling, suitable for all audiences. Your choice will therefore depend mainly on whether you prefer to explore the area on foot or by bike. Parque del Castillo adds a historical park to the landscape, designed by François Duvillers in 1877.
Alder trees, kingfishers and otters are among the species found in the nature-watching area along the Orlina. The protected status of the rivers is also part of the landscape: the Orlina and Llobregat are included in protected areas of the Natura 2000 network and PEIN. These natural features differ from the town’s architectural sites and offer another way to choose the focus of your stay.
Discover more destinations: Esponellà , Darnius, Castelló D’empúries, Isòvol, Les Olives, Llanca, Riudarenes, Palau-Sator.
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
