Falgars castle. Route 3 Beuda

Circular route from Beuda, it goes along the path marked with yellow marks to Font de Roca Pastora (fountain) which is the same as the Pujada al Mont, passing the AG16 ca n’Oliveres and AG17 Font de Rocapastora crossroads. We detour via some steps that lead us to the Rocapastora fountain, which still flows today. From here, the path climbs through a thick forest of Holm oak trees and we quickly leave it near the Rocapastora cliff, which we follow as the ground flattens out inside the Corral de l’Abat man-made cave, with a length of 80 metres and a depth of between 2 and 6 m. Having passed the interesting cave, the path finishes following the cliff and then goes into the wood, immediately passing the ruins of the Rocapastora house, from which it turns sharply and continues crossing the slope of the mountain almost in the middle of the thick oak forest until it finds a canal with some ropes. Here we go along the canal easily supported by the ropes (when dry the ropes are not necessary) until reaching a trail-path further ahead, flattening out we find the B3 Sota Pla de Ginestar crossroad. Shortly after the trail-path, it takes a sharp bend and begins climbing from Coll de la Creu, the path follows the wood-lines ridge passing by a good natural viewing point to the top of Puig del Far topped with the remains of Castellot de Falgars. We have to make a short, easy climb to the castle. It is located on top of the hill at over 900 metres.

Its topographical situation makes it a privileged strategic point for controlling the territory. This means that from the tower the whole of the eastern side of the Pyrenees can be controlled, as well as the mountain pass that communicated with Gaul, the Empordà plain, the Bay of Roses, Vall del Fluvià, Castellfollit and even Pla de l’Estany. It has been possible to date it back to Roman times, specifically the second and first centuries BC. The tower is circular and its construction technique is similar to the face of the walls of the Neopolis of Empúries.

We go back along the same path and return to the B3 Sota Pla de Ginestar crossroad. Now we continue towards the monastery at Sant Llorenç de Sous, the AG21 crossroad.

Sant Llorenç del Mont or the monastery of Sant Llorenç de Sous was a Benedictine abbey in the old county of Besalú, within the limits of the Girona bishopric on the most southern side of today’s municipality of Albanyà (Alt Empordà). It was the centre of the village of Sous, known uninhabited, belonging to the old municipality of the La Garrotxa region of Bassegoda, which was incorporated into Albanyà in 1988 and, therefore, into the Alt Empordà region. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Sant Llorenç de Sous parish church was built on its ruins. From Sant Llorenç de Sous, we head for Beuda, passing by the Rocapastora fountain, the AG17 crossroad and the Salve Regina path until we reach the AG16 Ca n’Oliveres crossroad, where we continue to Beuda following the yellow marks.