|
This picturesque village is located in a bend of the river Muga; it has conserved the spirit of bygone days and offers visitors peace and quiet.
A narrow road that seems painted in a landscape of softly rolling hills and wild vegetation takes us to Sant Llorenç de la Muga. The inhabitants of this small village have preserved and restored and taken such good care of it that it has conserved the spirit of bygone days.
The houses arranged along a river bend and surrounded by small vegetable gardens bring to mind Iberian settlements, and the name Sant Llorenç tells us of Roman times. We enter through the upper gate to this impressive and well-preserved walled settlement. Houses and other buildings have been carefully restored with local elements. Each corner, each street, each detail contains historical remains that transport us to other epochs.
Yet without a doubt, the Muga is the protagonist here, geographically, economically, and for leisure. Throughout the centuries its waters have irrigated vegetable gardens through a creek and a system of reservoirs; it has been used to power forges, mills and water wheels (one was recently restored and installed very near to its original location). The fresh and crystal-clear waters of this river that comes from a spring south of the Montnegre, tempt us to swim in one of the many lovely gorges, to fish, or to hike along the leafy banks. This is the main water source for the reservoir of Boadella, a place loved by water skiers. Of course, there are many fountains in the village and around it, some far away like the Fradera, others near a Masia or a chapel, like the Font de Palau or the Font de la Muntada. One is known for the strong smell of its sulphurous waters, the Font Pudosa, appreciated for its therapeutic qualities to cure acne.
The 14th - 15th C. bridges of Sant Llorenç are also important. In the upper part of the village is the Sant Antoni Bridge, built on original rocks where the river narrows. In the lower part is the Pont Vell, once the main point of entry but replaced by the wider Pont Nou only a few meters lower down.
The church of Sant Llorenç is worth a visit: some of the original structure dating from AD 972 is preserved, and its great size is surprising. Next to the cemetery is the chapel of Sant Andreu; one can also visits the chapels of Sant Antoni and of Santa Maria de Palau, near the border of the neighbouring municipality of Albanyà. But the most significant is the chapel of Sant Jordi at the top of the village from which you can enjoy a view over the whole region with the bay of Roses as backdrop.
At present, Sant Llorenç de la Muga has 233 registered inhabitants; there are more young people than old, which guarantee the future of this municipality and strengthens its sense of community. The citizens volunteer to restore chapels or fountains; they celebrate the many festivals and preserve the traditions of their ancestors through various cultural associations. Surrounded by mountains, full of attractions such as hunting, fishing, hiking, or mountain biking, this clean and tidy medieval village with its welcoming inhabitants preserves the charm of centuries gone bye.//Marià Baig
|
