The castle of Tossa de Mar, located in the province of Girona, is one of the most important historical jewels of the Costa Brava. This fascinating place is one of the most beautiful and most visited on the Mediterranean coast. Much of the charm of Tossa de Mar lies in its seafaring personality and the preservation of its medieval essence in its cobbled streets and corners.
In the Vila Vella there is a walled enclosure that has been kept in excellent condition. It is one of the main monuments of this Catalan seaside town, not only for its excellent conservation, but also for its fascinating history. The history of the castle of Tossa de Mar dates back to the 12th century, during the reign of Albert I, with the original purpose of protecting the town from the frequent pirate attacks of the time. It should be noted that the Castell de Tossa de Mar is the only example of a fortified medieval town that still exists on the Catalan coast.
The wall that surrounds the walled enclosure has circular towers that have become a symbol of the landscape of Tossa de Mar. These defensive towers are the Torre d'en Joanàs, the Torre de les Hores and the Torre d'es Codolar.
All of them offer spectacular panoramic views that combine sea and natural surroundings. A plan not to be missed if you are wondering what to see in Tossa de Mar.
Visiting the castle of Tossa de Mar
Nowadays, the walled enclosure is a very popular tourist attraction. Inside its walls, tourists can find cobbled streets, perfectly preserved historic houses, charming restaurants and other points of interest such as the church of Sant Vicenç.
If you want to visit the castle, you should know that in the enclosure where the fortification used to be, we can now find the Tossa Lighthouse. It functions as an interpretation centre of the lighthouses of the Mediterranean and also has a bar / restaurant, which offers spectacular views.
The price to go up to the castle of Tossa de Mar is completely free and the visit can be made on foot or from a little train that goes around the whole town and leaves from the Gran beach (located at the foot of the medieval castle).
As far as opening hours are concerned, there are no restrictions on entering this monument, so it is possible to enjoy fantastic views of Tossa de Mar at night.
Here are some recommendations of bars in Tossa de Mar, if you are going to spend the night in this beautiful coastal town.
The church of Sant Vicenç. Spectacular building at the foot of the castle of Tossa de Mar
The Vila Vella de Tossa was attacked and burnt down by the French in 1285, who demolished a large part of the walls and the church of San Vicente. A century later, a Gothic church was built on the same site where the 10th century church once stood.
The current ruinous and incomplete appearance of the old church of Sant Vicenç is due to the fact that it was accidentally destroyed in the 19th century when French troops were storing explosives here.
The current ruins of this 15th-century Gothic church only conserve part of the chapel, the side walls, part of the choir and the apse that had a sculpture of Sant Vicenç. However, it is well worth a visit for its great beauty and the beautiful views it offers of Tossa de Mar. The old church of Sant Vicenç is the setting for concerts and weddings..
The Tossa de Mar lighthouse occupies the site of the old castle
The Tossa lighthouse is located some 60 metres above sea level, occupying the site of the remains of the old castle. It was built in 1917 due to the need for maritime signalling between Calella and Palamós, taking into account the poor state of the area.
The Tossa de Mar lighthouse currently houses the Mediterranean Lighthouse Interpretation Centre and is classified as an Asset of Cultural Interest. It is also the headquarters of the museum project ‘Lighthouse of Tossa.
A place of reference for those interested in learning more about the world of lighthouses.
Visiting hours can be consulted at the centre itself, by calling +34 972 343 359.
Tossa de Mar; land of pirates on the Costa Brava
The history of Tossa de Mar is marked by stories of pirates. The pirate Barbaroja and other corsairs stalked this fishing village when the castle still stood on the heights protected by cannons and defensive towers.
Legend has it that a lady lived in the castle of Tossa del Mar and that one of her suitors was a Barbary pirate who moored his ship on the shore to wait for the young woman, so engrossed was the pirate that his crew abandoned him.
But he, willing to wait for a gesture from the lady, decided to wait as long as it took. The ship's sails withered and its hull dried up, and the pirate's hair and beard grew. His body grew thinner and his skin wrinkled. One day, tired of waiting, the pirate sank the ship on that beach, in front of the castle itself, upside down, keel up.
The keel became, through a spell, a great rock that we can see today, between the Mar Menuda´s beach and the Playa Grande, symbol of an unbribable love.
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