L'Empordà: Come to enjoy a region where the coast, the mountains and the plain come together to create a territory and a landscape with a lot of personality.
L'Empordà is a natural region located in the northeastern sector of Catalonia and borders with France, currently divided into two administrative entities: Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà. This division is by political and non-historical, natural, geographical or cultural management criteria.
The history of this region goes back to the prehistory, as demonstrated by the numerous megalithic and dolmens ensembles scattered throughout the territory. The following traces of human occupation, which we have constancy, are the Íberi village of Ullastret and the Greek colonies of Rhodes (Roses) and Emporium (Empúries). In Ullastret and Empúries we can enjoy a very interesting visit in their respective museums. In the Middle Ages well there is the important county of Empúries, created in the time of the Carolingian Empire (812) and that lasted until the incorporation to the Crown of Aragon (1402). Most of the towns maintain a medieval structure, visits to the Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes (IX-XVIII centuries) and the villages of Pals, Peratallada, Ullastret and Madremanya are highly recommended.
The landscape of the Empordà is the union of an extensive plain with the coast, the last mountains of the Pyrenees and the massif of the Gavarres. We can enjoy a very wide set of landscapes. For nature lovers it is advisable to visit their natural reserves: the natural park of the Aiguamolls of the Empordà, the maritime reserve of the Medes Islands, the natural place of national interest of the Albera and the natural park of Cap de Creus.
This geography moves to its gastronomy in the kitchen of sea and mountain. You can taste splendid meals where fish, pork, birds and vegetables share a dish. In the region we find products of excellent quality such as: the oil with protected denomination of origin (DOP), the rice of Pals and the wines of the denomination of Origin Empordà, wines where the wind of the Tramontana and the lands join to give a excellent wine.
The region has a very good cultural offer. Following in the footsteps of Salvador Dalí we can visit the Theatre-Museum of Figueres, the house Salvador Dalí in Portlligat and the Gala Dalí Castle in Púbol. In Palafrugell we have the foundation Josep Pla and the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture of the foundation Vila Casas and in Sant Feliu de Guíxols the space Carmen Thyssen...
The Empordà is a region where the most tourist area of the coast is combined (Sant Feliu de Guixols, Palamós, Begur, L'Estartit, Roses, Cadaqués) with the tranquility of the people of the interior, all the territory has a very good network of services. The cities of Figueres and La Bisbal de l'Empordà are the capitals of the ALT and Baix Empordà and where the administrative services are concentrated.
Come and enjoy this small country where geography, history, nature, culture, landscape, plain, coast and mountains have allied to create a unique place. RuralVerd recommends the following holidays cottage.