Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Vilanova de La Muga
The town of Vilanova de la Muga, in the province of Girona, is part of the municipality of Peralada and is situated very close to the River Muga. The village is known for the 11th-century Romanesque church of Santa Eulàlia; only the side aisles and the apse survive from that period, as the central nave was rebuilt between the 12th and 13th centuries.
Inside, the murals in the central nave are particularly noteworthy; they depict the Pantocrátor blessing the faithful. Alongside them are images of the four evangelists, depicted as winged figures, and two cherubs with six wings. The paintings, which date from the 12th–13th, 17th–18th and 20th centuries, have undergone various restoration works.
In Vilanova de La Muga, the 17th-century Conde lock is a must-see; it was built at the behest of the Count of Empúries, Ponç Hug IV, to channel water from the River Muga to power the mills and irrigate the market gardens.
Produce from both the sea and the mountains form the basis of the region’s cuisine: broad beans, lamb, muscatel fritters, free-range chicken with mushrooms, empedrat, roasted chestnuts with garnatxa wine, roasted vegetable and anchovy canapés, fish suquet and crema (a class of Catalan crème brûlée) are just some of the culinary attractions.
The annual festival in Vilanova de la Muga takes place in December and is held in honour of Saint Eulalia and Santa Lucía. To mark the occasion, exhibitions, concerts, a parade featuring the Comparsa de Gigantes y Cabezones, and the traditional local dances, sardanas, are organised.