Mas Pere Pau
Maià de Montcal, Spain
★ Verified by our editors · June 2026
The verdict
A centuries-old family-run farmhouse near medieval Besalú, with five rooms and two apartments — each named after a woman — a fireside hall in the old barn and a salt-water pool that melts into the garden. Honest, rustic and warm rather than designer; a well-priced country base for Besalú, the Garrotxa volcanoes and the Alt Empordà.
Travellers wanting an affordable, genuine Catalan masia and a base for Besalú and the Garrotxa.
You expect hotel-style service, a spa, or contemporary design.
The restaurant mainly opens at weekends — time your stay for it, and bring the dog if you have one.
The rooms
Five rooms and two self-catering apartments, each named after a woman, inside a traditional Catalan farmhouse that keeps its old beams and stone. Rooms look onto the garden or the mountains; the apartments suit families and longer stays. The old barn is now a bright communal hall with a fireplace, plus a TV lounge and games room.
The setting
A centuries-old masia set in its own gardens at Maià de Montcal, in the inland Alt Empordà on the edge of the Garrotxa, with medieval Besalú barely 10 minutes away. In summer a salt-water pool sits integrated into the garden; the surroundings are quiet farmland and woodland.
The food
An à la carte restaurant serves characteristic Catalan cooking with local produce, mainly at weekends — so plan your dates around it. Otherwise you're well placed for the restaurants of Besalú and the Garrotxa, and the communal hall is made for a fireside evening.
Getting there
About 40 minutes from Girona–Costa Brava airport, 10 minutes from Besalú and 25 from Figueres. Thoroughly rural — a car is essential — with parking on site. Barcelona is roughly 1h40.
Good to know
Genuinely family-run and pet-friendly (dogs welcome). The restaurant's weekend-led hours and the summer-only pool are worth checking when you book. Rustic comfort and value rather than five-star polish — a great base for Besalú and the volcanic Garrotxa.
