Besalú Medieval, the late-August festival

What it is and what you see

Besalú Medieval is the town's big festival: a weekend when the old town goes back to the 13th and 14th centuries. It is organised by the Town Council, has been held since 1987 and fills streets, squares, walls and the riverside promenade with hundreds of participants. There is horseback jousting under the bridge, combat with historical weapons, parades with jesters, Italian flag-bearers from Servigliano, music and dance, street theatre and a night-time show of light and fire. Around it, the medieval craftsmen's market, a trades demonstration and workshop and the Taverna del Seny, where you can eat all day long.

The setting is the town itself. The jousts take place at the foot of the fortified bridge, the market occupies the Prat de Sant Pere, in front of the monastery, and plaça de la Llibertat hosts a good part of the shows. On those days there are also guided visits to the synagogue and the mikveh in the Jewish quarter.

When

It is held on the last weekend of August. In 2026 it ran from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August, and in 2025 from 29 to 31. The 2027 edition has no announced dates yet: check the Town Council's tourism website before planning your trip.

The 2026 schedule works as a guide. On Friday, at 20:00, the opening parade goes from the Prat de Sant Pere to plaça de la Llibertat, and from 22:00 to 1:00 the Carrer dels Atrapats opens, a street of frightening figures, on carrer de la Font. On Saturday and Sunday the market, the trades workshop and the tavern run all day, with events following one another from 10:30 until night.

The programme highlights

• Horseback jousting: the tournament of Count Tallaferro, under the bridge. In 2026, Saturday at 17:30 and Sunday at 11:00.
• Light and fire show: Saturday night at the Prat de Sant Pere; in 2026 it was at 21:30.
• Carrer dels Atrapats: Friday and Saturday night, from 22:00 to 1:00.
• Guided visits: a dramatised one in the church of Sant Vicenç and another to the synagogue and the mikveh, several times over the weekend.
• Combats and parades: on Sunday afternoon, duels of honour on plaça de la Llibertat and parades through the centre.

Times change each year. The programme in PDF is published a few weeks beforehand on the Besalú tourism website.

Getting there and where to park

By car, leave the AP-7 at exit 6 and continue on the C-66; from Girona it is about 35 minutes; from Barcelona allow an hour and a half. The old town has regulated traffic and interior parking is for residents only, so leave the car outside. For the festival, the organisers point to the car parks at the entrance to the town, at plaça del Sol and in the sports area, signposted, and recommend arriving before 17:00, because parking is limited.

If you can, go by public transport: the TEISA bus links Besalú with Girona, Olot and Banyoles. The nearest railway station is Girona.

Tickets and price

The Town Council states that all events are free unless the programme says otherwise. In 2025 its website mentioned a €3 ticket for adults, free for under-12s; the 2026 page gives no price. Check the year's programme before you go.

Practical tips

Go on Saturday morning if you are after calm: the market is already open and you can still walk. In the afternoon, especially before the jousts and the fire show, the centre fills up. The streets are cobbled and sloping, and some areas are not accessible in a wheelchair; with a pushchair, a baby carrier is better.

With children, the trades workshop, the jousts and the parades work well. The Carrer dels Atrapats is designed to frighten: consider the age before going in. With a dog, think about the crowd and the fire on Saturday night. If it rains, follow the Town Council's social media (@aj_besalu and @besalumedieval), which announce any changes.

That weekend the accommodation fills up: book early, in the town or the surrounding area. There is a purple point for assistance throughout the festival, and the tourist office, on carrer del Pont, can answer questions.