How to plan your visit to the gorgeous Castellfollit de la Roca

I’m going to begin this article with an admission: I recently planned a whole trip to the north of Spain after seeing photos of Castellfollit de la Roca, the gorgeous medieval village that sits perched high up on a basaltic cliff in Girona, Catalunya.

Honestly, I don’t regret it one bit because the whole trip was amazing and Castellfollit de la Roca is really cool to visit. In fact, it was one of the most exciting trips I’ve taken in Spain recently.

→ If you’re looking to do the same, then I highly recommend using my guide to road tripping around Girona Province. 

⭐️ You’ll probably want to allocate a half day to this adventure – you won’t need too long to explore the town but you’ll want to check out the views from below, too. 

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The village is located in Garrotxa volcanic area nature reserve, an absolutely beautiful region of Girona Province, Catalunya. 

It’s possible to visit as a day trip from Girona (50 minutes away) and Barcelona (1hr40 away) on your own or with a guided tour from Barcelona or Girona

🚘 Find a rental car deal in Catalunya

🚌 Check public transport options on Omio (there are buses to/from Barcelona & Girona every day)

👣 Find your perfect guided tour on either Viator or GetYourGuide (always read reviews and check out the tour company before buying)

The town is built on a spectacular ancient basalt cliff that’s over 50 metres (160 feet) high and almost a kilometre long.

🌋 It was formed by the overlaying of two lava flows. The first of these layers is apparently over 200,000 years old, and the second, the result of an eruption of the San Juan les Fonts volcano ‘just’ 192,000 years ago. 

🏞️ At the base of the cliff is the confluence of two rivers: the Fluvià and the Toronell.

🏰 The first references to the town relate to a castle here during the 11th century so it appears that there has been a town here for around 1,000 years.

⛪️ The famous church here, the Church of San Salvador, now known as Església Vella, was built in the 13th century. 

⭐️ The reality of your visit is that you park in the modern town and then walk through the narrow, medieval streets, marvelling over the buildings, many of which are made of volcanic rock and are extremely beautiful to look at. 

Miradors and views looking UP

Ok, so once you’ve seen the views from the town, it’s time to head down to the base of this basalt crag to admire it from below. There are a few mirador options marked on the map. This is my suggestion: 

You’ll need to park more or less on the road and then walk down to Passarel·la – this cute wooden bridge (you can’t drive all the way down, it’s maybe a 7 minute walk).

From here you get both great views and a chance to hike around the base of the cliff. There are sign posts for a circular route that takes around one hour. 

We actually didn’t do more than a little section of it because two of the four of us were not feeling great and it was also almost lunch time so no one was excited to walk. 

Where to eat and where to stay in Castellfollit de la Roca

It’s a small town but there are a few options for both accommodation and meals.

🏨I didn’t stay here, instead I stayed in a nearby village, Castelló de Empúries in a gorgeous apartment called Can San Llehí.

🏨 Fonda Ca La Paula – a small hotel right in the centre of Castellfollit de la Roca (includes free parking).

🏨 Ca La Reia – a one bed apartment right by the plaza, lovely owners who strive to make your visit as pleasant as possible.

🍽️ There are a few restaurants and a small supermarket in town. We actually went to nearby Eixida Espai Cultural i Gastronòmic in Montagut for a truly amazing meal (a ten minute drive away).