Sant Aniol de Finestres

The municipality of Sant Aniol de Finestres is the northernmost in the valley and is located specifically in the northwest of the same. It forms part of the Garrotxa region and its reliefs fully participate in the Garrotxa landscape. The boundaries of the municipality 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 andLes Planes d'Hostoles.

It covers an area of 47.7 km2, almost three-quarters of which is forested, creating a rugged and rugged landscape on the slopes of the surrounding mountains, a popular destination for hiking and climbing enthusiasts. 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 Mieres Valley, Hostoles, Les Medes, and Llémena, at an altitude of 880 m, stands the church dedicated to Santa María. It is a single-nave church with a bell tower with two openings, one of which still retains the 1840 bell sponsored by Rocafiguera. The earthquakes of the 15th century damaged its structure. The sanctuary preserves the echoes of the Carlist Wars.

Festivals and traditions

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

The Llémena Valley

The Llémena Valley is one of the best-preserved natural areas in the province of Girona, just a stone's throw from the city of Girona. Straddling two regions, between Gironès and La Garrotxa, and covering an area of 184 km2, the valley takes its name from the Llémena stream, an emblematic element and key to territorial cohesion, which runs through the valley from its headwaters to its mouth in the Ter, as it passes through Sant Gregori. The life of the following municipalities, Canet d'Adri, Sant Aniol de Finestres, Sant Gregori and Sant Martí de Llémena, revolves around the stream, where small villages, ancient residents and unique houses spread out in a setting of great scenic value. The combination of cultivated fields, different types of forest, cliffs and the presence of water create a harmonious landscape shaped by nature and the traditional uses of its resources. This geographical location, along with the beauty of its surroundings, provides ideal conditions for enjoying a wide variety of recreational, cultural, sporting, and culinary opportunities for all ages.

Distributed throughout the Llémena Valley, from west to east, are six volcanoes: Puig de les Medes, Puig Moner, Granollers de Rocacorba, Puig del Cuerno de Boc, Clot del Omer, and Puig d'Adri. These volcanic formations are part of the Catalan Volcanic Field, which was active from about 14 million years ago until just 10,000 years ago.

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

Every year in May, the Llémena Valley celebrates the Remença Festival, an event that commemorates 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. Theater performances, folk dances, and traditional scenes, along with tastings of remença dishes, are the main events of this supra-municipal event that brings the valley's population together.

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 earliest reference dates back to 906. Finestres Castle is also mentioned in 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 an altitude of 960 meters.

Church of Santa Maria de Finestres

It is located just over 5 km from Sant Aniol, on a forest path leading to Mieres, accessible only on foot. This Romanesque, single-nave church has been extensively modified over time. Of the original building, only the raised semicircular apse and the vault remain. It was part of the old village 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 stream that comes from the sanctuary, in a place very close to Sant Aniol.

It is a large block of sandstone that was moved thousands of years ago from its original location, leaving a small cavity beneath it. At a specific time in prehistory, more than 20,000 years ago, this cavity was used as a dwelling by a small group of people.

Church of Sant Julià de les Medes

The chapel of Sant Julià de les Medes is located at the top of the Finestres mountain range. It has a single nave, which was elevated, using this space as a dovecote. The apse, facing east, is semicircular and retains part of the old flagstone roof. It currently has no bell tower.

Hermitage of Sant Joan de Medes

It is a small, elevated, single-nave building with direct access to the upper part from the north side. The nave is entered from the west side through a door made of carved ashlars.

Church of Sant Aniol de Finestres

It is a single-nave building extended by other side aisles, one of which is dedicated to Saint Lucy. The oldest part, dating from the 10th and 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 to 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