La Bisbal d'Empordà

Castell de la Bisbal, located at the heart of La Bisbal d’Empordà, is a former episcopal palace and a prime example of Catalan Romanesque civil architecture from the 11th–12th centuries. Built and owned by the bishops of Girona, it concentrated both spiritual and temporal power over the town and surrounding territory along the Daró river. Over the centuries it was expanded with walls, courtyards and Renaissance elements and served successively as fortress, residence and prison, remaining today a key symbol of local historical identity.

The original church of Santa Maria de la Bisbal was consecrated in 904, although the current church does not preserve any vestiges prior to the 18th century. The work was begun during the first years of that century, as confirmed by the dates of 1704 and 1705 that appear on the doors of the presbytery. On the facade there is the date of 1757, probably the date of completion of the church. After the civil war of 1936-39 the main altar had to be rebuilt, a work directed by the architect Pelai Martínez and inaugurated in 1953.

It is a large building located on a raised area in the southwest corner of La Bisbal. The complex consists of the church and the cloister, around which the various rooms necessary for convent life are arranged. The outbuildings are from different construction periods, ranging from the 16th to the 18th century. The most remarkable elements of the complex are the old refectory built in late Gothic style in the 16th century, covered with a ribbed vault, and the small square-shaped cloister, of classical influence. It was founded in 1580 on the site where there used to be a hermitage dedicated to Saint Sebastian. On May 18, 1590, the first stone of the church was laid, which was blessed on December 21, 1591. The temple was expanded in 1791. At the end of the 20th century, the building of the Franciscan convent-novitiate was dedicated, in the part not occupied by the friars, to the School of Ceramics.

The Pont Vell was built at the exit of the wall by the portal of Carrer de la Riera, with the purpose of connecting the medieval town of La Bisbal with the road to Girona. The bridge was fortified; it had a tower with a portal in the center. The date of construction is 1605, according to the plaque preserved on the bridge, although the origin of the bridge is much older. Since the foundation of La Bisbal, there have been two roads: one to Cruïlles crossing the river and another that, on its right bank, reached the mountain villages. The Pont Vell de La Bisbal was the scene of the feat of arms that took place on September 14, 1810, when General O'Donnell's troops attacked the town and imprisoned the entire French garrison. O'Donnell was slightly wounded on the bridge, which earned him the title of Count of La Bisbal, granted by the Cortes of Cadiz.

The Terracotta Museum has a collection of up to 11,000 pieces, including about 3,000 from all over the Iberian Peninsula and lent by the Generalitat. The exhibition has four thematic axes, which deal with ceramics, pre-industrial ceramics, industrial development and a tribute to their creators. You can also visit the old ovens and chimneys of the Terracotta factory, tiles and creative ceramics.