The medieval origins of Navata (14th-15th century)

The urban center of Navata was born around the Old Hospital which was founded near a very busy medieval road, the one that went from Figueres to Besalú. The institution, which was also known as the hospital for the poor, was already in operation in 1283. The first homes and small industries were established around it very soon. In fact, this first urban grouping was called "Villa Hospitalis", the Villa de l'Hospital. From the 15th century onwards, the town council governed by juries, i.e. the town hall of the time, has been documented.

Before the existence of the current urban center, and since 1051 Navata was already an important barony with the Navata castle as a political power and the church of Sant Pere Vell or Can Miró as a religious power and even today the shield of the town bears the baron's crown.

Navata, walled town

The title of town, which has been held by Navata since ancient times, indicates that it was a town that, without being a city, had some privileges that made it distance itself from being a town. Being a town was important because it represented the general recognition of Navata's pre-eminence over neighboring towns.

The small medieval town was important as a strategic point, as a place of passage and defense against the penetration of possible invasions, south of the Pyrenees ridge. And that is why, probably in the 14th or 15th century, a wall was built to protect it. Few canvases remain of the old defensive construction, as a significant part of the stone was used to build new buildings or the current church and the other was demolished. There is also a part of the layout of the wall that is found in modern houses on top of each other.

The Valls portal

The wall had a trapezoidal plan and four portals. In this space was the portal of the northern part of the wall, the Valls portal. The valley or moat was the deep excavation that was made around the fortification to make it difficult for the enemy to pass from outside to the wall of the wall, like the Gorg square, since in the past it is believed that in the area there was a gorg or a pool that collected water, probably naturally, and that must have been used by the villagers.
empordaturisme.com/es/event/visita-guiada-a-la-villa-medieval-de-navata

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Location: Navata, Alt Emporda, Girona, Catalonia, Spain

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Navata (medieval town)

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