Terrades lies among mountains in the basin of the Rissec and Murga streams, in the middle of a small valley. There are several ways to plan a stay here: explore the history of the churches, follow trails to viewpoints or discover the cherry tradition. In June, the Fira-Mercat de la Cirera de Terrades adds a recurring event to the calendar. You can shape your stay around local history, outdoor activities or a visit to the market.

Church history across different periods

The present-day Església parroquial de Santa Cecília was built in 1954, replacing an earlier Romanesque church that has completely disappeared. The former Romanesque Església de Santa Cecília was completely destroyed in February 1939. The present parish church, therefore, dates from after the destruction and is not the surviving Romanesque building.

Another place with a history to discover is the Ermita de Sant Sebastià, half a kilometre from Terrades. It probably dates from the 17th century and has been restored several times. While the date of the present-day Santa Cecília is precisely known to be 1954, Sant Sebastià’s origins can only be dated approximately.

From the Santuari to the Ermita de Santa Magdalena

The Santuari de la Mare de Déu de la Salut stands at an altitude of 400 metres on a densely wooded slope in the Vall de Santa Magdalena. Its history links a specific name with a date: Mossèn Felip Olivet founded the Santuari, and the original chapel was consecrated on 8 September 1681. Every year, many guilds and organisations present offerings to the Mare de Déu at the Santuari.

From there, a pleasant 30-minute walk leads to the Ermita de Santa Magdalena. It stands on the summit of the mountain of the same name and offers wide-ranging views of the surrounding area and much of the comarca. The route thus connects two named religious sites with a viewpoint; for planning, the stated walking time provides a clear guide to this particular stretch.

Trails and routes around Terrades

The Camí Natural de la Muga passes through Terrades and forms part of a route approximately 40 kilometres long that can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. This offers a different kind of planning information from the 30-minute walk between the Santuari and the Ermita de Santa Magdalena: for the Muga route, the key details are its approximate total length and the modes of transport mentioned; for the walk to the Ermita, it is the walking time for a single connection.

Ruta BTT 30 heads west from Terrades along the Rissec and through coniferous forests to Font Pudosa. It then passes through Sant Llorenç de la Muga and along the GI-511, by the Ermita de Santa Magdalena and cherry orchards, before returning to Terrades. The traditional route of the Cursa-Marxa de muntanya also starts in Terrades. The route descriptions offer different points of reference for comparison: the Camí Natural de la Muga is described by its approximate length and several possible modes of transport, while Ruta BTT 30 is described by a specific sequence of places and landscape features.

Cherry growing and market dates

Up to 16 varieties of cherry are grown in the municipalities of Terrades and Llers. The Fira-Mercat de la Cirera de Terrades is always held on the first Sunday in June. It features stalls selling cherries, crafts and regional products. The market is therefore not focused solely on fruit; it also brings cherries together with other products and crafts. If you would like to include it in your travel plans, the first Sunday in June is the date to bear in mind.

Arriving in the valley

The road from Figueres to Terrades crosses a valley of farmland and forests. Together with its setting among the mountains and the Rissec and Murga streams, this describes the landscape surrounding the churches, the Santuari and the routes mentioned above. Terrades can therefore be explored for travel-planning purposes through its historic sites, trails and local cherry tradition.

Discover more destinations: Les Llosses, Garrigàs, Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurní de l'Heura, Santa Cristina De Aro, Sant Jordi Desvalls, Montagut, Selva, Portbou

For the wider travel overview: Girona.