Visiting the Torre de les Hores

What it is

The Torre de les Hores is one of the most representative and best-preserved towers of Peratallada’s medieval defensive system. It dates from the 13th to 15th centuries and forms part of the walled enclosure that surrounds the village, above the moat cut into the rock. It takes its name from the clock installed in it. Between 2017 and 2021 Forallac Town Council and the Diputació de Girona, with the Generalitat, restored it so that it could be visited.

What you see

• The interior of a medieval bestorre, a wall tower open towards the inside of the enclosure.
• The walls and arrow slits recovered: long narrow slits, spread over three combat levels.
• The reconstruction of the central floor, which had disappeared.
• The monumental mechanical clock, from the early 20th century.
• The rooftop viewpoint, from where you see the medieval ensemble, its surroundings and a good part of the Empordanet.

The tower’s history

Originally, the moat surrounded it on three sides and the fourth opened onto the inside of the fortification. It had three combat levels: one at ground level, an intermediate one over an arcade and a timber frame, and a terrace on a large pointed arch, probably with battlements. At the end of the Middle Ages a large voussoired doorway was opened in the west façade, which can still be seen. As it sits well above the present street, it is known that the floor was lowered later, perhaps when the street was opened and the house next door was built.

It was later adapted for the clock: the upper terrace was removed and an enclosed hut was built for the machinery, with a small bell tower. In the mid-20th century, when a large doorway was opened in the adjoining house, the base was weakened and cracks appeared, which were repaired in the latest restoration.

The clock

It was made in the early 20th century in Morez, a village in the French Jura with a great clockmaking tradition, the work of L. Terraillon and J. Petitjean, who became partners in 1914. It has three gear trains, hence its triangular shape, and strikes the hours and repeats hours and quarters on two older bells, reused. The large one, 67 cm in diameter, dates from 1800 and weighs about 180 kg: it strikes the hours. The small one, 46 cm, dates from 1798 and weighs about 55 kg: it strikes the quarters. It runs for a week on a winding and is wound by hand.

Opening hours and price

According to the Town Council’s agenda, the visit is open every day from 10:00 to 20:00, until 31 December 2026. It is free and open access, with no booking. For 2027, check the Visit Forallac agenda or ask at the tourist office, at Plaça del Castell, 3 (872 987 030).

Getting there

The tower is in the centre of Peratallada itself. Leave the car in the upper car park (Dalt) or the lower one (Baix) and walk in. The visit lasts about 20 to 30 minutes.

With children and accessibility

The viewpoint is reached by stairs, so it is not practical with a pushchair or wheelchair; ask at the tourist office if you have any doubts. Children usually like seeing the clock’s machinery and looking out of the arrow slits; hold on to little ones at the top.