🍂 At The Sun Places we know that autumn is the perfect season to rediscover villages with soul.
That's why we invite you to visit Pals, a medieval village that at this time of year shines with a special golden light, ideal for strolling without haste, enjoying the gastronomy and connecting with history.
Stay in our Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava and let yourself be enveloped by the magic of one of the most beautiful villages in the Baix Empordà.
Pals is much more than a pretty village. It is a journey to the Middle Ages without leaving the Empordà. Its name comes from the Latin palus, meaning "marshy land", a reminder of the marshes that once occupied this stretch of coast. But today, what defines this Empordà village is its walled old town, known as El Pedró, a labyrinth of cobbled alleyways, semicircular arches and stately houses that preserve the spirit of the Middle Ages.
Today we invite you to discover this village in depth: its history, its literary and artistic legacy, its gastronomy, its golf courses and everything you need for an unforgettable family getaway.
🏰 What does Pals represent for the region and for The Sun Places?
Pals represents the essence of the medieval Empordà and the perfect balance between heritage, nature and gastronomy.
For the Baix Empordà, it is one of the best-preserved historic ensembles in Catalonia, a living testimony of centuries of history that has managed to maintain its authenticity without becoming a theme park.
For families, it is the ideal destination: a place where children can feel like knights and ladies for a day, while adults enjoy the gastronomy, the landscape and the tranquillity of autumn.
And for The Sun Places, Pals embodies the luxury of the authentic: the pleasure of getting lost in streets that smell of history, of eating rice grown just a few metres away, of sleeping in an environment that invites rest and disconnection.
Our Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, located between Calella de Palafrugell and L'Escala, are just a few minutes from Pals, and we can organise guided tours, gastronomic experiences and activities for the whole family.
We are committed to cultural, leisurely and exclusive tourism.
📜 History of Pals: the guardian of the lagoon
It is a village of medieval origin that stands on a hill, dominating the Empordà plain and the ancient wetlands that gave it its name. Its old town, El Pedró, is surrounded by one of the best-preserved walls in the region, with circular towers and gateways that still stand today.
The most emblematic monument is the Torre de las Horas, a Romanesque tower with a circular floor plan that is all that remains of the old castle of Pals. From the top, there is a spectacular panorama of the whole region, the landscape that the writer Josep Pla described as one of his favourites.
The Church of Sant Pere, in Gothic style with Baroque additions, is another of the village's treasures. Built using stone from the old castle, it preserves Romanesque remains in its western facade.
Strolling through Pals is also discovering horseshoe arches, Gothic windows and stately houses such as Ca la Pruna, which preserve Renaissance and Gothic decorations.
The ensemble was restored in the mid-20th century, which has allowed it to display a chromatic and structural unity today that makes it an open-air museum without losing its local life.
📖 Pals and its neighbouring villages: the route of the medieval villages of the Empordà
Pals is part of one of the most fascinating routes in the Baix Empordà: that of the medieval villages that dot the region. Very close by are the Medieval Villages of the Empordà, such as Peratallada, Vulpellac, Cruïlles and Madremanya, each with its own personality and charm.
Peratallada, with its moats carved into the rock and its labyrinth of streets, is one of the largest monumental ensembles in Catalonia. Monells, with its arcaded square, was the setting for films and maintains an intact medieval atmosphere. Cruïlles preserves a 26-metre keep and an 11th-century Benedictine monastery. And Madremanya, perched on a hill, offers privileged views of the plain.
Touring these villages in autumn, with the golden light of the season, is an experience that no history lover should miss.
🎨 Pals and its illustrious visitors: Dalí, Pla and the soul of the Empordà
Pals has been a source of inspiration for some of the great names of Catalan culture.
Josep Pla, the chronicler par excellence of the Empordà, found in Pals one of his favourite landscapes. From the Torre de las Horas there is the panorama that the writer considered one of the most beautiful in the region. In fact, there is a viewpoint that bears his name, the Mirador de Josep Pla, from where the view extends over the rice fields to the Medes Islands.
As for Salvador Dalí, although his best-known link is with Cadaqués and Figueres, the surrealist genius also frequented this area of the Baix Empordà. The landscape of Pals, with its rice fields and its Mediterranean light, is part of that Empordà imaginary that so influenced his work.
The combination of history, literature and art makes Pals a destination with a cultural depth that goes far beyond its architectural beauty.
🌾 Pals rice: the white gold of the Empordà
If there is something that defines Pals beyond its medieval old town, it is rice. Rice cultivation in this area has been documented since the 15th century, and as early as 1452 there was a rice mill that still stands today.
After a period of decline in the 18th century due to epidemics caused by stagnant water, cultivation recovered in the early 20th century thanks to Pere Coll Rigau, a resident of Torroella who introduced modern water circulation techniques.
Today, Pals Rice is an extra-quality product, with varieties such as Bahía, Tebre, Jsendra and Carnaroli. Its grain, more consistent than that of other regions, "hardly ever overcooks" and always remains perfectly cooked.
The rice fields that surround Pals form part of the Montgrí Natural Park and the Pals Rice Fields, a protected area where nature and agriculture coexist in perfect harmony. In autumn, the fields are tinged with gold, announcing the harvest.
🍽️ Where to eat in Pals: rice dishes, tradition and family
The gastronomy of Pals is another of its great attractions. Rice is the absolute protagonist, and there are several restaurants where you can enjoy it in its maximum splendour.
Pahissa del Mas is a must-stop. It occupies the hayloft of a 1352 farmhouse, surrounded by rice fields, and seven generations of the Pericay family have kept the culinary tradition alive. Its rice dishes are spectacular, and if the drought allows, they grow their own Carnaroli variety rice.
Can Rubén is another institution. Founded in 1971 by a family from Sueca, it offers generous and sincere Empordà cuisine, with an Empordà casserole rice that connects directly with its Valencian origins. Its potato bravas mille-feuille and its open tortilla with prawns and pancetta are excellent.
El Pedró, Vicus and Antic Casino are other classics of Pals, where you can enjoy rice dishes and traditional dishes in a medieval setting.
If you are looking for a more exclusive experience, we recommend booking at Celler de Can Roca (in Girona, 30 minutes away) or at Compartir (in Cadaqués, 40 minutes away).
⛳ Golf in Pals: the king of sports in the Empordà
Pals is also a reference destination for golf lovers. In its surroundings are some of the best courses on the Costa Brava.
The Empordà Golf Club, in Gualta, is just a few minutes from Pals. Designed by Robert Von Hagge, it has two 18-hole courses, Links and Forest, which combine technique and landscape. The wind plays an important role, making it a fun and challenging course.
Golf Platja de Pals, the oldest course on the Costa Brava (1966), is located on a sandy estate by the sea, with a spectacular pine grove. Designed by F.W. Hawtree, it is considered one of the best courses in Spain for its design and technical difficulty.
Combining a morning of golf with an afternoon strolling through the medieval old town of Pals is a perfect plan for any time of year.
🍂 Pals in autumn: the perfect family plan
Autumn is, without a doubt, the best season to visit Pals as a family. Temperatures are mild, the streets are quiet and the golden light bathes the stone of the old town, creating an almost magical atmosphere.
Children can feel like explorers touring the walls, climbing the Torre de las Horas and playing at being medieval knights. Adults can enjoy a quiet meal in one of the village's restaurants, stroll through the rice fields or simply sit on a terrace and contemplate the landscape.
In addition, Pals is just a few minutes from the beach, in case the weather is good and you fancy a walk through the protected dunes of Platja de Pals.
And to complete the day, nothing better than a visit to the neighbouring medieval villages or an excursion to the rice fields to see the harvest.
🗓️ Perfect plan with The Sun Places to discover Pals in autumn
Friday: Arrival and first contact
- Arrival at your Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava with The Sun Places.
- Afternoon: Walk through the old town of Pals, climb the Torre de las Horas and contemplate the sunset from the Mirador de Josep Pla.
- Dinner: Casserole rice at Pahissa del Mas or Can Rubén.
Saturday: History, rice and golf
- Morning: Visit to the Medieval Villages of the Empordà (Peratallada, Monells, Cruïlles).
- Lunch: Pals rice at El Pedró or Vicus.
- Afternoon: Round of golf at Empordà Golf Club or Golf Platja de Pals.
- Night: Dinner at a restaurant in Pals with views of the medieval old town.
Sunday: Nature and farewell
- Morning: Walk through the rice fields and visit to the Montgrí Natural Park.
- Lunch: Last tasting of Pals rice in a restaurant overlooking the fields.
- Afternoon: Walk along Pals beach or visit to the Pals Rice Fields.
- Baggage collection and return home.
Ready to discover Pals in autumn with The Sun Places?
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your family getaway to Pals.
We advise you on the best accommodation, gastronomic experiences and activities so you can experience the medieval Empordà with maximum comfort.
CEO's word: At The Sun Places we have visited Pals in all seasons, and autumn is, without a doubt, the most special. The light, the tranquillity and the aroma of freshly harvested rice make this village a perfect refuge to disconnect as a family. I encourage you to discover it.
If you liked this article, we invite you to discover other incredible destinations with The Sun Places: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Seville, Luxury Apartments in Cádiz, Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús, Luxury Accommodation in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Luxury Apartments in Córdoba.
© 2026 The Sun Places. All rights reserved