Parc de la Torre de Llagostera

Parc de la Torre is a municipal park in Llagostera, a small town in the Girona province of Catalonia, run by the local council as a green recreational space right in the heart of town. The park takes its name from the historic defensive tower standing next to it — Torre Albertí — which for centuries was the seat of one of Llagostera's most prominent families.

Where does the park's name come from?

The Albertí family has been documented in Llagostera since the 15th century, working as well-off pagesos (farmers) in the Riudaura area. A turning point in the family's history came in 1541, when Pere Albertí was knighted by Martí Grau de Cruïlles, the eighth Baron of Llagostera. Seven years later, in 1548, Albertí bought the surrounding land and obtained the baron's permission to build a defensive tower — the very tower that later gave the park its name. In 1588 a chapel was consecrated on the estate, founded in memory of Pere Albertí's son, who had died in 1581. Over the following two centuries, the 16th and 17th, the Torre Albertí manor served as the residence of the Procurator General of the Bailiwick of Llagostera, the baron's local representative.

What will you find in the park?

Today Parc de la Torre is mainly a place for everyday leisure for Llagostera's residents: a tree-lined space with walking paths and a children's playground (parc infantil) that draws families with young kids. The Torre Albertí tower itself, listed in Catalonia's inventory of architectural heritage, acts as a landmark and historic backdrop to the greenery, though it's the park grounds — not the interior of the tower — that visitors actually come to enjoy.

Worth knowing before you go: the park is currently going through changes. The town council commissioned a technical assessment of the tree stock, which found that a portion of the trees are in poor condition mainly because of overly dense planting in the past. As a result, 23 trees are scheduled for removal and another 3 will be transplanted to safer spots. This work is tied to the construction of a new 200-metre athletics track inside the park, which will reshape part of its layout and sports facilities in the near future.

How do you get to Parc de la Torre?

The park sits right in the centre of Llagostera, a town in the Gironès comarca, a short drive from the city of Girona and not far from the Costa Brava coastline. Llagostera has regular bus connections to Girona and neighbouring towns, and the park is within easy walking distance of the town's main points of interest, including the tourist information office. Drivers coming by car will find it most convenient to take the local road linking Llagostera with Girona and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, then park in the town centre and continue on foot.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit, when temperatures in the Gironès area are mild and the trees provide pleasant shade along the paths. In summer, aim for morning or late-afternoon hours, since inland Catalonia can get quite hot. Because of the ongoing athletics-track works, part of the park may be temporarily fenced off — worth keeping in mind if you're planning a visit with children who want to use the playground.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a playground for children at Parc de la Torre? Yes, the park has a children's playground (parc infantil), popular with families from Llagostera and the surrounding area.

What does the park's name mean? The name refers to the neighbouring Torre Albertí, a defensive tower built in the 16th century by the Albertí family with the Baron of Llagostera's permission.

Can you visit the inside of Torre Albertí? The tower is a listed architectural heritage site, but it's the park surrounding it, rather than its interior, that functions as the publicly accessible attraction.

Is any construction currently underway in the park? Yes, the council is removing part of the tree stock for safety reasons and building a 200-metre athletics track, which may temporarily limit access to some areas of the park.