With a lovely city centre just a few miles from the shore, Pals is a popular destination in Catalonia, Spain. It's one of the many small medieval towns along the Costa Brava but it has a remarkably well-preserved historic village centre and a nice, large beach. it's at south of Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park.
Understand
[edit]
Map of Pals
Like many towns in this area, Pals is built on a hilltop, a few miles from the sea. The town area does, however, cover the grounds all the way to the shore, and the town's beach, in the bay between L'Estartit and Begur, is one of the largest in the region. It has a population of about 2,500 permanent residents, and plenty of holiday houses around.
- 1 Tourist office (Casa de Cultura - Ca la Pruna), Carrer de la Creu 7, ☏ +34 972 637 380, [email protected]. 10:00-14:00 on summer also opens in evenings.
- 2 Roundabout Tourist office, C. Aniceta Figueras, 6.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- Closest airport is Girona - Costa Brava Airport GRO IATA.
- Alternatively, you can fly into Barcelona El Prat Airport BCN IATA. Airport shuttles operate between Girona-Costa Brava airport and the majority of the resort cities, Barcelona and Girona city centre.
By train
[edit]- A high speed line runs North (France)-South ( Barcelona-rest of Spain ) with stops in Girona and Figueres
- There is no railway in the village. The clossest station is Flaça at 25 km (16 mi)
By Bus
[edit]- The main bus company covering Costa Brava is Sarfa, toll-free: 902 302 025 (domestic). from Barcelona starts in Estació del Nord. From Girona starts in Central bus station. From Flaça you can get it in front of railway station
By car
[edit]- AP-7 ( E15 ) motorway runs inland North (France)-South ( Barcelona-rest of Spain ), and is the main road connection of Costa Brava
- coming from north/France by AP-7 ( E15 ) take exit 9 (Vidreres / Lloret) and road C-66 until Torrent. then GI-652a to Pals.
- coming from south/Barcelona by AP-7 ( E15 ) take C-35 towards Palamós and then C-31 until Torrent. then GI-652a to Pals.
Get around
[edit]The village centre is small and should be explored on foot. It's a pretty long walk to the beach. A car is helpful for getting to the beach; a car is generally handy in these parts of Spain.
Parking
[edit]- 1 Parking. Free parking but almost always full in high season. free.
- 2 Paid Parking, Carrer dels Horts,. parkimeter.
- 3 Paid parking, Avinguda de Paul Companyó. parkimeter.
- 4 Parking Plaça Catalunya, Carrer Pere Coll Rigau, toll-free: yesPhone with wrong format.
- 5 Free parking, Carrer de Samària, toll-free: noPhone with wrong format. 15 min walk to downtown
- 6 Motorhome parking, GI-650a (enter by Carrer d'Enric Fort), toll-free: yesPhone with wrong format. 10 min walk to downtown
See
[edit].jpg)
Pals has a delightful, picturesque old town. In high season it can get crowded here, but still, it's worth a visit and fairly quiet compared to the main destinations on the Costa Brava. Wander through the charming cobblestoned streets and note the pointed arched windows and stone balconies on the authentic buildings along them. The so-called Gothic Quarter is worth a look, as it has been nicely restored. The old town wall is a major attraction, including 4th century towers. Kick back for a coffee at the Plaça Major
- 1 Josep Pla viewpoint. offers some great vistas over the Medes Islands in the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park.
- 2 Church of Sant Pere. It is a Gothic church with a single nave and a polygonal apse, incorporating some scarce elements from the previous Romanesque temple.
- 3 Pals Castle (Castell de Pals) (in the Baix Empordà region). The castle of Pals is a fortified castle dating back to the 9th century. The main tower of the ancient castle, known as the Tower of the Hours due to the bell tower built in the 15th century, has been preserved. The castle is documented in the year 889 in a precept of the Carolingian king Odo, related to the monastery of Sant Pau de Fontclara, where it is mentioned under the name "Castle of Mont Aspre."
- 4 Tower of the Hours (torre de les hores).
- 5 Basses d'en Coll. A system of two ponds that constitute the mouth of the Molí stream, where the waters from the rice fields of Pals flow into, over an area of about 50 hectares. They are part of the partial nature reserve of the Aiguamolls del Baix Ter or Baix Empordà, within the Montgrí, Illes Medes, and Baix Ter Natural Park. There is a bike and hiking trail in the area, as well as a bird observatory. The vegetation in the area consists of patches of salt marsh, wetlands, brambles, reed beds, and rushes.
Do
[edit]Beach
[edit]- 1 Pals Beach. It is a beach made up of medium and fine sand, 2.8 km long and more than 50 meters wide. On the fixed dune there were the facilities of Radio LibertyThere are unhandled parameters: 1; , which first broadcast in 1958, and was demolished in 2006. It had metal towers up to 169 meters high. It is part of the Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter Natural Park
- 2 Windsurf school (Windsurf Pals Escola) (in front camping Platja Brava).
- 3 sailing school (Escola Nautica Pals). Small Sailing boats and SUPs
Hiking
[edit]The GR 92 long-distance walking route crosses the city.
Cycling
[edit]The Pirinexus and the EuroVelo EV8 long distance bike routes cross just outside of the city.
Golf
[edit]- 4 Golf de Pals, C. del Golf, 162, ☏ +34 972 667 739, [email protected]. Holes:18, Par:73, Handicap:36, Standard Scratch Score:72
- Check also Empordà Golf Club in Torroella de Montgrí
Sport airfield
[edit]- 7 Aeroclub Empordà (Aeròdrom de Pals), Carr. de Pals a Torroella de Montgrí, Km 4, ☏ +34 625 746 742.
Buy
[edit]Traditional pottery is sold in many small ceramics shops in town.
- 1 Celler Mas Geli, Disseminated Barri Bernagar- Masos Pals, 5, ☏ +34 629 69 44 28, [email protected]. Located in the Masos de Pals, a privileged place near the massifs of Begur and Montgrí. Likewise, the sand and limestone soil, as well as its proximity to the sea and the microclimate of the area, give the wines produced to have their own personality.
Rice
[edit]Pals is well know for his high quality arisanal rice production.
- 2 Arròs estany de Pals, Cta. de Pals a Torroella, km 343, ☏ +34 972 636 635, [email protected]. small family business dedicated to cultivating, processing and packaging rice. The rice is cultivated by them using agro-environmental methods, dried in the sun, delicately processed and packaged by hand without any coloring or preservatives.
- 3 Arròs moli de Pals, Ctra. C-31 de Pals a Torroella, km 343,9, ☏ +34 972 63 67 06, [email protected]. M-F 8:00-16:00.
Eat
[edit]- 1 La Vila, Carrer Abeurador, nº 18, ☏ +34 972 668 193.
- 2 Pahissa del Mas, C/ Barri Molinet 16 (In the countryside near Pals.), ☏ +34 972 636 976, [email protected]. Wed–Sat 13:00–14:45, 20:00–21:45; Sun lunch.. Traditional farmhouse restaurant with seasonal local dishes, rice and grilled meats.
- 3 El Pedró, Carrer de les Placetes 29 (In the heart of medieval Pals.), ☏ +34 972 636 983. 13:00–15:30, 19:30–22:30; closed Thu all day & Sun evenings (seasonal).. Cosy spot for Catalan classics, rice dishes and seafood in authentic village setting.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 La Costa Beach & Golf Resort, Carrer Arenals de Mar, 36 (Between Platja de Pals and Golf de Pals, with direct access to both.), ☏ +34 972 667 740, [email protected]. 4-star resort with large pool, direct access to Pals beach and golf course, several restaurants and family facilities. closed on winter From €140.
- 2 Mas Salvi Country Boutique Hotel, Ctra. de Pals a Torroella, km 3, 17256 Pals (In the Carmany hills, about 3 km from Pals beach.), ☏ +34 972 636 478, [email protected]. Secluded 4-star country hotel surrounded by woodland, with spacious rooms, pool, gardens and on-site restaurant.closed on winter. From €160.
- 3 Es Portal Restaurant & Hotel Boutique, Carretera de Torroella de Montgrí, km 17 (Rural location just outside Pals, on the Torroella road.), ☏ +34 972 63 65 96, [email protected]. Adults-only boutique hotel in a 16th‑century farmhouse, with gourmet Empordà cuisine, large garden and pool. From €150.
Camping
[edit]- 4 Camping InterPals Eco resort, Av. Mediterrània, s/n, ☏ + 34 972 63 61 79, [email protected]. closed in winter
- 5 Camping Cypsela, C. Rodors, 7, ☏ +34 972 667 696.
- 6 Camping & Bungalows Platja Brava, Avda. del Grau 1, ☏ +34 972 63 68 94. Platja Brava is a family-friendly campsite with direct access to Pals Beach.
- 7 Camping Neptuno, Rodors, 23, ☏ +34 972 63 67 31. Set in the heart of a majestic pine forest, just 1.5 km from the golden beaches of Pals.
- 8 camping mas patoxas, Ctra. C-31 Palafrugell - Pals, ☏ +34 972 63 69 28.
Connect
[edit]As of Jan 2024, Pals and its approach highways have 4G from MasMovil, Orange and Vodafone, and 5G from Movistar.
Go next
[edit]- visit the medieval village of Ullastret
- visit the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park
| Routes through Pals |
| Peralada ← Torroella de Montgrí ← | N  S
|
→ Palamós → Platja d'Aro |
| L'Escala ← Torroella de Montgrí ← | N  S
|
→ Begur → Calella de Palafrugell |