The moat cut into the rock and the walls

What it is

Peratallada was one of the best-fortified towns in Catalonia, and what is most impressive about its defences is the moat: a great ditch cut into the living rock that surrounds the village and which, according to tradition, gives it its name, Petra tallada, carved stone. Where it can be seen today, it is about 7 or 8 metres deep. Its date is unknown and disputed. In the village it is called les Valls.

On top of the moat rise the walls, from the 12th and 13th centuries, with the upper part rebuilt between the 16th and 18th centuries. The system had three enclosures: the main one, with the castle in the centre, and two outer walls protecting the north and east. Stretches of wall, moats and three square towers remain; one of them is the Torre de les Hores, the clock tower.

It is a short walk, of about half an hour, free and self-guided. You can do it on its own or as part of the walk around the medieval centre.

What to see

• The moat cut into the rock. It is best seen from outside the walled area, following the outline of the village. Look at the vertical sandstone walls and the bridges that cross it to enter the core.
• The stretches of wall, with stone from different periods: the medieval work below and the early modern additions above.
• The Torre de les Hores, from the 13th to 15th centuries, one of the best-preserved towers of the defensive system. Originally the moat surrounded it on three sides. Restored between 2017 and 2021, you can climb to its viewpoint free of charge.
• The Portal de la Verge, to the north, opened in the outer wall. It is the way out towards the church of Sant Esteve, about 200 m away.
• The remains of the entrance to Carrer Major.

How to do the walk

Start in Plaça del Castell, where the tourist office is, and ask there for the map. Leave the core towards the moat and follow it on the outside, looking at the wall from below. Re-enter through the Portal de la Verge or the Torre de les Hores, and climb the tower if you want to see the whole ensemble from above. If you arrive by car, the upper car park (Dalt) and the lower one (Baix) are on the outskirts, a few minutes’ walk from the walled area; in high season they are blue zone, with a maximum of €6 a day.

When to go

First thing in the morning or at the end of the afternoon, when the low light draws the rock walls of the moat better and there are fewer people. In summer, avoid midday. During the Fira Medieval, on the first weekend of October, the walls are the backdrop to the festival, but the village is full.

With children and with a dog

Children like it: a real moat, towers and gateways. Keep an eye on them at the edges of the moat, which has a drop of several metres. The ground is uneven and cobbled; with a baby, a baby carrier is better. Dogs can come, on a lead.