Sales de Llierca is located in Alta Garrotxa, between the Llierca and Borró rivers. The landscape is clearly defined: a plain stretches across the south, while mountains rise to the north. Churches, hiking trails and a cycling route reveal different aspects of the village and its surroundings. You can shape your visit around architectural history, the landscape or a long-standing celebration.

Churches and Architectural Styles

Sant Martí de Sales was built between the late 17th and early 18th centuries and has a Baroque façade. Two details stand out at Castell de Sales: a small chapel dedicated to Sant Jordi was built on the castle ruins; the castle itself was built beside a fortified house whose tower had a circular ground plan. The walk from the village to Castell de Sales takes about 30 minutes.

Several other churches are Romanesque; Santa Cecília de Sadernes and Sant Grau d’Entreperes date from the 12th century. Santa Cecília de Sadernes has a single-nave layout and a semicircular apse. Its bell gable was converted into a defensive tower. The church stands on a hill above the left bank of the Llierca; the landscape here is defined by the Gitarriu cliffs.

Sant Andreu de Gitarriu is also a Romanesque single-nave church, with a barrel vault and a semicircular apse. A double-arched bell gable sits on its west wall. Sant Grau d’Entreperes is a heavily altered Romanesque church from the 12th century. Its position on the ridge separating the Llierca and Borró valleys adds a striking connection to the landscape to its architectural appeal. The large medieval single-arch bridge Pont de Valentí, meanwhile, provides access to the Sant Aniol d’Aguja route.

Trails and Landscape

The Sant Miquel and Sant Grau hiking route starts at Sant Martí de Sales and heads towards Sant Miquel de Monteia. This 12th-century Romanesque church lies within the municipality of Sales de Llierca. If you continue along the route to Sant Grau d’Entreperes, the trail leads to the 1,053-metre-high summit of La Calma. From there, you can enjoy views across the whole of Garrotxa and part of Empordà.

For a different way to explore the landscape, the Ruta cicloturística de la vall del Llierca cycling route crosses the plain between Castellfollit de la Roca, Pont del Llierca, Sales de Llierca and Argelaguer. The hiking trails and cycling route offer different highlights: the walks focus on churches and a named summit, while the cycling route takes in the plain between several towns.

Tradition and Regional Context

The Aplec de Sant Aniol, also known as the Aplec dels Francesos, is a centuries-old tradition; it was first documented in 1733. An earlier festival programme included a mass, a procession, sardanas, a communal rice dish and traditional games. This combination of religious and community elements gives the celebration a distinct cultural place alongside the area’s churches and trails.

The headquarters of the Consortium for the Protection and Management of the Alta Garrotxa Natural Area of Special Interest, founded in 2000, is located at the Rectoria de Sadernes, in the municipality of Sales de Llierca. In Sales de Llierca, historic buildings, trails through varied landscapes and a regional connection to the protected area come together.

Discover more destinations: Sadernes, Ultramort, Selva, Fornells De La Selva, Rupià, Vilamacolum, Can Jordi, Flaçà

For the main travel overview: Girona.