I'm planning a trip to Barcelona next March and have come across some beautiful photos of two towns north of Barcelona - Besalu and Banyoles. They are quite close to Girona so I am assuming you could go there on a day trip but I can't find much information. Does anyone know anything about how you could get there (don't want to rent a car). Or other suggestions for day trips from Barcelona by public transportation. I like medeival towns with old world European atmosphere. Something that would be a nice contrast with Barcelona.

Anyone?

I did not go to either Besalu or Banyoles, but you can easily take a train to Montserrat, which is about 1.5 hours away. Montserrat is an amazing mountain of beautiful and strange rock formations, with one of Catalunya's most important shrines--the Benedictine Monestir de Montserrat. The monastery, founded in 1025, has a unique setting and houses the famed La Moreneta (the Black Virgin)--a 12th century Romanesque sculpture, highly revered by the faithful. Try to be there at 1Pm or 7PM, when the Boys' Choir (Escolania) sings in the basilica.

The Montserrat trip is easily done by rail from Barcelona. Personally, I didn't find the "Black Madonna" nearly as interesting as the art museum in the monastery confines. The whole place is well worth the tirp IMO and fairly easy to do.

In terms of the other towns: are you referring to Banyuls sur Mer in France? If so, it does have some scheduled rail service, probably from the Sants station in Barcelona.

Try this for Besalu information:

http://www.barcelonaconnect.com/show...0&langId=1

I have been to both places. Besalu was beautiful! I would highly recommend it. We stayed in Girona. Banyoles wasn't quite as memorable. Have you also read about Empuriades, where there are Roman ruins? That was pretty spectacular.
I can't help you with the transportation, though i will say we rented a car for a couple of days in Girona and it was very easy. Girona is very easy to get in/out of (unlike driving in Barcelona) and the roads were very well marked. I am no expert international driver and i was very pleasantly surprised.

I live in Catalonia and I can tell you that Besalu is one of the most beautiful towns in our country.
Banyoles is not far from Besalu and the most interesting think of that town is its lake.
If you want to visit that area (near there are other interesting villages like Santa Pau or Castellfollit de la Roca) I suggest you to rent a car. I think there are not good public transport to go there (no train) and you will waste a lot of time with buses.
Another good option if you really don't want to rent a car is Vic (about 1 and 1/2 hours by train from Barcelona). It's an interesting town with the most beautiful square in Catalonia and one of the best museums of romanesque and gothic art of the world. Market on saturdays.

Thanks for the replys. Unfortunately it sounds like it's not too practical for me to do these towns as a day trip without a car. But at least I know that. So thanks.