Spoon-shaped points of light, a church built over Romanesque foundations and a medieval bridge give Tortellá a distinctive cultural character. The town lies on a plain in Alta Garrotxa and has been documented since the 10th century. When planning your trip, it is worth considering its architectural history and crafts alongside the paths along the Llierca River.

Church architecture, music and local crafts

The Església de Santa Maria is an 18th-century church built over the original Romanesque place of worship. Its architecture includes a single-nave layout with two side aisles, as well as an octagonal chapel topped by a high dome. Different periods thus meet in one building: the 18th-century church stands on the site of an older Romanesque place of worship.

Crafts are also part of the town’s history. The spoons from Tortellá carry the “Ofici Singular” accreditation from the Generalitat de Catalunya. The Monument a la Xiruca by Manuel Solà commemorates footwear developed and made in Tortellá since the 1950s. Around twenty spoon-shaped points of light, the Fanals de cullera, can be found in Plaça Mercat and along Carrer de França and Carrer de Besalú. The shape of the lights thus brings a local craft theme into public spaces.

The town’s musical history includes its Sardana tradition: nine Cobla orchestras were founded between 1875 and 1956. La Fàbrica Gran represents another focus of its economic history. The building was constructed in 1784 and was used until 1852 to make cotton stockings, textiles, Indiennes fabrics and handkerchiefs. Those interested in local history will therefore encounter both cultural forms of expression and earlier forms of production.

The bridge and archaeological traces along the Llierca

The Pont medieval del riu Llierca was most likely built in the mid-14th century at the request of the Lords of Sales. The Pont del Llierca has a single round arch with a diameter of 19.10 metres and is located on the road to Sadernes. You can descend to the river and swim there during the hottest summer months. Check local conditions for this seasonal activity before your visit.

The Bauma del Serrat del Pont is an archaeological site on the Llierca River, about 50 metres from the Romanesque bridge. A wooden fence protects the site, and two information panels explain its archaeological significance. From Montagut, take the road to Sadernes, crossing the Llierca Bridge. Road conditions may vary, so plan your journey with local conditions in mind.

The remains of the former church of Bellpuig are also part of the history of the area. It appears to be a chapel of Romanesque origin that belonged to the buildings associated with Bellpuig Castle. The remains are located within the municipality of Tortellá on private land and are not signposted. Keep this restriction in mind when planning your visit.

Walking and cycling routes

A restored path leads from the Abeuradors along the Camí dels Horts to the washhouses. The described stops give the route a clear focus on water and former everyday facilities. No walking time or route length is specified, so plan according to the actual conditions on site.

For cycling, there is a circular route through the Vall del Llierca. It is about 29 kilometres long and passes through Castellfollit de la Roca, Sant Jaume de Llierca, Argelaguer, Tortellá, Sales de Llierca and Montagut i Oix. Cyclists must dismount when crossing the Pont del Llierca. This requirement is an important distinction between a cycling tour and a simple route description: be sure to plan to walk your bicycle across the bridge.

If you would rather choose a route with a scenic destination, the Itinerari els Comuns leads to the dels Comuns quarry. Stone was once extracted there; quarrying ended in 2010, and the site is currently being restored to nature. The town’s history, buildings and paths offer different focuses for your stay, without requiring every stop to be the same kind of outing.

Discover more destinations: Sant Joan De Les Abadesses, Sant Feliu De Pallerols, Vilanova de la Muga, Peralada, Vilamaniscle, Camós, La Tallada D'empordà, Lladó.

For the broader travel overview: Girona.