Sant Aniol de Finestres

The municipality of Sant Aniol de Finestres is the northernmost of the valley and is located specifically in the northwest of it. It is part of the Garrotxa region and its reliefs fully participate in the Garrotxa landscape. The limits of the municipal area are to the north with Santa Pau and Mieres, to the east with Sant Martí de Llémena and Mieres, to the south with Amer and to the west with Sant Feliu de Pallerols and Les Planes d'Hostoles.

It has an area of 47.7 km2, of which almost three quarters are forested, forming an abrupt and steep landscape on the slopes of the mountains that border it and highly celebrated by lovers of hiking and climbing. The municipality is made up of the towns of Sant Aniol de Finestres, Sant Esteve de Llémena and La Barroca.

On the mountain range that separates the valley of Mieres, Hostoles, Les Medes and Llémena, at 880m above sea level, stands the church dedicated to Santa María. It is a temple with a single nave, with a belfry bell tower with two openings, one of which preserves the 1840 bell sponsored by Rocafiguera. The earthquakes of the 15th century damaged its structure. The sanctuary preserves the echo of the Carlist wars.

Holidays and traditions

• Meeting of Finestres (Sunday of the Holy Trinity)
• Meeting of Santa Lena (Easter Monday)
• Annual walk of Sant Aniol de Finestres

The Llémena Valley

The Llémena Valley is one of the most well-preserved natural places in the province of Girona and just a step away from the city of Girona. Straddling two regions, between Gironès and Garrotxa, and with an area of 184 km2, the valley receives its name from the Llémena stream, an emblematic element and territorial cohesion, which crosses the valley from the headwaters to its mouth in the Ter, as it passes through Sant Gregori. The life of its municipalities revolves around the stream, Canet d'Adri, Sant Aniol de Finestres, Sant Gregori and Sant Martí de Llémena, where small towns, old neighbors and unique houses extend in a setting of great landscape value. The combination of crop fields, different types of forest, cliffs and the presence of water make up a harmonious landscape shaped by nature and the traditional uses of its resources. This geographical location, as well as the beauty of its surroundings, provide the ideal conditions to enjoy a great diversity of recreational, cultural, sports and gastronomic possibilities for all audiences.

Distributed throughout the Llémena Valley, from west to east, there are up to six volcanoes: Puig de las Medes, Puig Moner, Granollers de Rocacorba, Puig del Cuerno de Boc, Clot del Omer and Puig d Adri. These volcanic manifestations are part of the Catalan Volcanic Field that was active from about 14 million years ago to almost only 10,000 years ago.

The Llémena Valley has three spaces that belong to the Plan for Spaces of Natural Interest (PEIN): the Rocacorba mountain, the volcanic hill of Puig de la Banya de Boc and the Finestres mountain range that belongs to the Garrotxa volcanic zone.. In addition, the Puig d'Adri volcano, the Clot del Omer and Puig de la Banya de Boc volcanoes are included in the inventory of spaces of geological interest.

Annually, the Llémena Valley celebrates the Remença Festival in May, an event that remembers the historical events of the remença revolts that took place in the Llémena Valley during the Middle Ages between the farmers of these lands and the feudal lords. Theatrical performance, popular dances and traditional paintings, along with tasting of remença dishes, are the main events of this supra-municipal event that brings together the population of the valley in its surroundings.

Places of interest

Finestres Castle of Sant Aniol de Finestres

The ruins of the old castle are located near the road from Sant Antoni to Mieres and Santa Pau. The oldest reference dates back to the year 906. The castle of Finestres is also mentioned in the year 947, during the consecration of the church of Santa Maria de Finestres.

Small in size, it was a rock castle, without many amenities, located at 960 meters above sea level.

Church of Santa Maria de Finestres

It is located just over 5 km from Sant Aniol, on a forest road that goes to Mieres, accessible only on foot. This temple, of Romanesque origin and with a single nave, has been greatly modified over time. Of the original building, only the raised semicircular apse and the vault remain. It was part of the old town of Finestres, located in the heart of the mountain range of the same name.

Roc de la Melca site in Sant Aniol de Finestres

The Roc de la Melca is located to the east of the town of Sant Aniol de Finestres, within the same valley and to the left of the Llémena, on the other side of the torrent that comes from the sanctuary, in a place very close to Sant Aniol.

It is a large block of sandstone that moved thousands of years ago from its original place, leaving a small cavity underneath. During a very specific moment in prehistory, more than 20,000 years ago, this cavity was used as a home by a small human group.

Church of Sant Julià de les Medes

The chapel of Sant Julià de les Medes is located at the top of the Sierra de Finestres. It has a single nave, which was elevated, using this space as a dovecote. The apse, facing east, is semicircular and preserves part of the old slab roof. Currently, it does not have a bell tower.

Hermitage of Sant Joan de Medes

It is a small construction with a single nave, elevated, with direct access to the upper part from the north side. The nave is accessed from the west side thanks to a door made of carved ashlars.

Church of Sant Aniol de Finestres

It is a building with a single nave extended with other side naves, one of which is dedicated to Saint Lucia. The oldest part, from the 10th-11th centuries, is the Romanesque apse.

Hermitage of Sant Miquel de Bustins

In the year 1136, there is evidence of the existence of the church of Sant Miquel de Bustins, when "Arnallus clerici de Bostin" signed as a witness in the donation made by Guillem Ademar of "illum mansum de Collo cum omnibus suis pertinentiis" to the Church of Santa Maria de Finestres.

Sant Gregori Town Hall