Peralada

Its streets have preserved buildings from medieval times. Muntaner, in the square, with further reforms, is the birthplace of chronicler Ramon Muntaner (1265–1336).

Peralada Castle, former residence of the Counts and Viscounts Rocaberti, was restored in the late 19th century in the style of French castles. Every summer the castle hosts the international music festival known as the Festival of Peralada.

The arms of Peralada are defined by the following: A shield that matches Argentina’s; a full cross; two gules; three gold sticks with three castles; and a crown ring.

This was approved on June 14, 1988. The castle of the town (the ninth century, rebuilt in the 14th century and enlarged in Renaissance style in the 19th century), now a famous casino, was the center of the county of Peralada.

The county was originally linked to Ampurias (one of the founding counties of Catalonia) and was granted in 1599 to Francesc Jofre Rocaberti. The shield of the population traditionally presents an azure cross with Argentinean fields and the weapons of Rocaberti. There are three styles of gold on a red camper, loaded with azure castles. The rings on the crown are in remembrance of the counts of Peralada.

Because of its rich soil, agriculture was the main source of wealth. The wineries of the Castillo de Peralada maintain the tradition of wine with wines and champagne. At present (2007) tourist services are the most important economically.

Parish Church of Sant Marti. An 18th-century building with a Romanesque-Gothic belfry.

Cloister of Sant Domenec. An 11th-century former convent of the Augustinian Roser. Inside can be seen a splendid iconography with biblical scenes and geometric and plant motifs.

Church of Santa Eulalia. Built in the 15th century, with Romanesque murals.

Convento del Carmen. Built in 1293 and has Gothic cloisters of the 14th century.

Museum of Glass.

Museum of Wine.

Peralada is a municipality in the Spanish province of Girona, located in the Catalan region of Alt Emporda.

Besides the capital city, Peralada contains the core of Muga Vilanova southward, added in 1975. Running through the land are Llobregat d’Emporda and Orlin in the confluence of the river Muga Vilanova of the Manolo.

It has very ancient origins, with an Iberian settlement dated in 500 BC. It originated as PAGUS Peralada in Roman times, and during the Middle Ages, the county was under the domination of Peralada County Ampurias.