Guide to Besalu, northern Spain

Guide to BesaluUnique PointsBesalu is a lovely				They cost
medieval town. The 12th century Roman				from 80 - 110 euros per night, based on two
bridge over to the town is a real				sharing.
landmark(photo). The town				The standard rooms are on the third floor. They
sits where the Rivers Fluvia and Capadella meet.				have
If you are				stonewalls, parquet floors and wooden ceilings.
looking for a picturesque inland setting for a few				There are
days,				roof windows in addition to small round windows.
Besalu is an ideal choice. It would take under an				They cost
hour to				from 70 - 100 euros per night.These prices
drive from Girona airport,, well served by				include breakfast. Dinner is available at the
Ryanair flights from				nearby Restaurant "Cal Parent" at 14 euros plus
all over Europe. There is a lot to do and see in				tax, per
the area, the				person.
Garrotxa Volcanic Park, the Dali Museum in				Single, triple and quad rooms are also
Figueres, the				available.Hotel Fonda SiquesThe Fonda Siques has
coast, and the city of Girona.History of				been owned by the same family
BesaluWilfred the Hairy, credited with the				since 1858. It was last renovated in 1985 ,all
unification of Catalonia,				bedrooms are
was born in Besalu in 878. He was so named as				en-suite. Most of the furniture dates back to the
he was				beginning of
as hairy as a mountain troll, even having hair of				the 20th century. There is parking and a small
on the souls				swimming
of his feet.In the Middle Ages Besalu was the				pool.A double/twin room costs from 51 - 69
capital of a country which				euros per night, A
reached up to Corbieres, now in France. Besalu				single room costs from 38.5 - 51.5 euros per
was the				night. A triple
birthplace of Ramon Vidal. a troubadour, a type				costs from 67.8 - 88.5 euros and a quad 81.6 -
of lyric poet				105.6 euros.
who composed music and poetry usually on the				All prices include breakfast. Dinner is available for
topic of				9 euros
courtly love.The Church of Sant Pere, in the main				plus tax per person.RestaurantsMany of the
square was originally				restaurants in the area are members of the
part of a monastery built in 1003.The Milova is a				Volcanic Cuisine organisation. The aim is to
ritual Jewish bath dating from the 11th or				promote and
12th century. It is located near the River Fluvia in				encourage the traditional gastronomic style using
the lower				local
town. It was recently discovered and restored.				produce. There is a list or restaurants on their
You need to				site.The Oliveras restaurant in Besalu has various
visit the Tourist Office in the main square to				set and a la
obtain the key.In December there is the Fiera de				carte menus which start at 7.60 euros per
Ratafia. This is the local				person.Day TripsGirona
"firewater"; a grappa based sweet liquor				You can easily spend a whole day in Girona,
flavoured with				there area
herbs, spices, coffee and nuts. Legend tells that				several museums, you can walk the city walls,
witches				visit the
supervise its production; it is left outside for two				cathedral, do some shopping.Banyoles. The main
weeks so				attraction here is the lake, which you
that the magic and power of the sun and the				can walk around.GironaBanyolesThe Dali Museum
moon can				in Figueres, around 20kms east of
contribute to its special flavour.There is an				Besalu, is well worth a visit.The Garrotxa Volcanic
outdoor market on Tuesdays.AccommodationEls				Park
Jardins de la MartanaThe Jardins de la Mantana is				The park has around thirty volcanic cones. The
in a strategic position just at				last eruption
the entrance to the 12th century Roman				was around 11,500 years ago, meaning that the
bridge.There are ten ensuite bedrooms, seven				volcanoes
double and three				are inactive but not extinct. There are several
family rooms. There is a sitting room with a				walks through
fireplace and a				the park.Walking trails
library with a fireplace, a shady summer garden,				There are many marked trails in the
a sunny				areaMuseums
Winter garden and a terrace. The dining room				There are two museums in the town of Olot.
has mountain				The Volcanic
views. You can park nearby.A double room costs				Musuem and the ethnological Comarcal de la
70 euros based on two sharing and a				Garrotxa.The Coast
triple 148 euros, an extra bed is available at 33				Cadaques is a lovely spot, reached by a road full
euros per				of hairpin
night. Breakfast costs 7 euros per person; dinner				bends. Its famous residents have included Dali,
is 16 or				Picasso,
20 euros. Tax of 7% will be added to these				Miro and Duchamps. I also rather liked El Porto la
prices.Hotel Comte TallaferroThe three star				Selva a
Comte Tallaferro sits in the main square. It				little further north.South West France
was recently renovated and named after Count				If you feel like a change, France is easily reached
Bernat				by
Tallaferro, known as the Prince and Father of the				motorway. It is very pretty on the coast around
11th				Luecate, just
century independent state of Besalu.The hotel				north of Perpignan. Carcassonne is a complete
has five suites, which have two levels, a sitting				medieval
room on the first level and a bedroom on the				walled city.Karen Bryan is an independent travel
second. These				consultant and writer,
have hydro massage baths.The cost is 90 - 126				specialising in the less well known destinations of
euros per night based on two sharing.				Europe.
The junior suites are suitable for disabled guests.

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Guide to Besalu, northern Spain

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