The church of Santa Eugènia de Saus and the historic centre tell the story of different building periods: the church has Romanesque origins, while the village’s appearance largely dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. There are also architectural details, an alleyway with works of art and trails through the Alt Empordà . A stay in Saus can therefore be tailored to a range of interests, from architectural history to hiking.
Church and Historic Centre
Santa Eugènia de Saus is listed as a Cultural Asset of National Interest in Catalonia. The church originated as a Romanesque building from the late 12th or early 13th century. In the 14th and 15th centuries, it was raised and fortified. This sequence helps show why the building should not be attributed to a single period: its origins are Romanesque, but its later form was further altered.
Inside, Santa Eugènia de Saus has a single-nave layout, a pointed barrel vault and a semicircular apse. The nave forms the elongated main space; the barrel vault spans it with a vaulted ceiling that tapers to a point. The apse closes off the church interior with a semicircular end. Those interested in architecture can observe three clearly identified structural features and their distinct forms.
The historic centre largely retains the appearance it acquired in the 16th and 17th centuries. Stone façades, well-preserved old doorways and windows with stone frames characterise the houses; the streets are also paved. The Portal de les Eres provides access from the north to the former walled centre. Taken together, these features offer a different perspective on Saus from the church’s older history: here, the focus is on the inherited townscape.
Local History and Distinctive Details
Individual buildings also display different forms of stone architecture. Can SimĂłn has a large round-arched doorway with voussoirs and an upper-storey window with a keel-arched top. In Saus, Artland de Palmero comprises an alleyway with paintings and artistic installations. These details add their own character alongside the church and historic centre.
Other traces reach beyond the visible buildings. Around 1978, two Iberian silos were discovered about 200 metres west of the centre. The history of local crafts also includes the production of wooden clogs: at its peak, the clog makers of Saus made about 80 dozen pairs of wooden clogs a year. The archaeological discovery and the former craft production offer two different perspectives on local history.
Springs, Landscape and Trails
The Font del Mal del Ventre is one of two springs along the course of the local stream, before it flows into the FluviĂ . From a hill in Saus, the Pi de la LluĂŻsa overlooks the valley formed by the villages in this area. The spring and viewpoint draw attention to different features of the landscape: the stream and the valley. Visitors can cool off at the Font del Mal de Ventre; practical use depends on local conditions.
There are two differently planned options for walking. A Terraprim trail links Camallera with Saus via the lake; the walk takes about an hour and a half. Route 149 is a hike through four villages of the Alt EmpordĂ and also passes through Saus. The first description gives an approximate walking time for a specific connection, while Route 149 places Saus on a tour through several villages. Check route information before setting out, as details may change.
Planning Your Stay
Saus is right next to the GE623/630. The road runs from the A-7 at Orriols towards Empúries and L’Escala. Check traffic and road conditions locally. The road location and walking trails answer different planning questions: the road helps with orientation on the regional route, while the trails described here offer specific options for walking.
When looking for a hotel in Saus, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay. Would you like to spend most of your time on the church, the centre and its architectural details, or would you also like to plan a walk? The two trails differ in their described routes: the Terraprim trail links Camallera with Saus and has an approximate walking time, while Route 149 passes through four villages of the Alt Empordà . Comparing them can help you plan around your interests without losing sight of the area’s architectural history and landscape.
For the broader travel overview: Saus, Camallera i Llampaies:Camallera.
