Besalú tourist office

The Besalú Municipal Tourist Office is at carrer del Pont 1, right at the start of the fortified bridge over the Fluvià, which is where almost everyone enters the old town. It is more than a leaflet counter: the inside of the Jewish quarter, with the mikveh and the synagogue, can only be visited with this office's guides, so if you want to see it, this is the first place to go.

Opening hours

The Town Council publishes the office's winter hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00, and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00. The summer hours do not appear on the website; if you are travelling between spring and autumn, call 972 591 240 beforehand or write to [email protected].

Guided visits

The Town Council's guided-visits sheet lists a scheduled visit to the Jewish baths and the call: it lasts about 30 minutes, costs €2.25 and leaves the office at 13:30 every day, and at 17:30 every day except Tuesday and Thursday. The language is settled on the spot, from Catalan, Spanish, French and English.

With advance booking there are longer visits. The full visit includes the church of Sant Pere, that of Sant Vicenç, the mikveh, the synagogue and an audiovisual on the history of Besalú; it lasts an hour and three quarters and is designed mainly for groups. The Jewish call visit (mikveh, synagogue excavations and an audiovisual on its reconstruction) lasts about 40 minutes and costs €2.25 per person, as does that of the church of Sant Pere with the audiovisual on the town's history. Groups of more than ten people pay €1.70 each for these last two.

The office warns that places are limited and that it may change times and languages, and recommends checking and booking beforehand. The sheet is undated, so confirm prices and times when you call.

What they give you and what to see afterwards

Besides the visits, the office gives out maps and information for exploring the town independently. From the door you have the bridge within easy reach, plaça de la Llibertat with its arcade and the old monastery of Sant Pere and Sant Vicenç, and the Museu de Miniatures i Microminiatures. If you come at the end of August, ask about Besalú Medieval, the festival that fills the old town with market and jousting.

Getting there

Besalú is about 33 km from Girona, 21 km from Olot, 25 km from Figueres and 133 km from Barcelona, according to the Town Council. If you come by car, leave the vehicle outside the old town: the historic centre has regulated traffic and interior parking is for residents. Without a car, TEISA buses link Besalú with Girona, Olot and Barcelona; the nearest railway stations are Girona, Figueres and Ripoll.