Peralada is a town located to the north-east of Figures. The town is the home to the castle of the counts of Peralada and Rocaberti (Rocaberti is a castle, now in ruins, close to the modern French-Spanish border at La Perthus) and the wines of Peralada, part of the DO Empordà wine appelation.In around 1000 (so close to the time of William the Conqueror in England), Peralada was the capital of Alt Empordà. At this time Catalonia was a collection of counties (literally ruled by counts). The history of Catalonia and its formation and development is bound up with the counts of Catalonia and feudal lines of homage, caught up with marriage and alliances. The count of the County of Barcelona was the dominate county, but this did not stop disputes with counts such as Urgell or Empúries (the count of Peralada was a vassal of the Count of Empùries)