ENVIRONMENT
The Costa Brava
It is the name that identifies the northeastern coastal area of Catalonia, which begins in Blanes and extends 214 kilometers to the border with France, in Portbou. It belongs to the province of Girona, within the Spanish coast.
This geographical location has historically been an area of passage and settlement for numerous peoples and cultures, the gateway to the peninsula from the Mediterranean Europe. The large number of historical archaeological remains found in the area are testimony to this fact.
We find megalithic remains more than 5,000 years old, Greek and Roman cities such as the site of Ampurias and remains of the first Iberian and Indigetes peoples such as the Iberian city of Ullastret, all of which can be visited today.
In addition to the historical importance of the area, the Costa Brava is also recognized as a region of very high natural importance, where more than 30% of the Girona territory is protected as a territory of natural interest.
The Natural Park of Cap de Creus, the Natural Park of Montgrí and the Marine Reserve of the Medes Islands, or the “Aiguamolls” (marshes) of the Empordà are places of exuberant nature.
These facts have developed the Costa Brava area as a place of great cultural richness expressed through regional festivals, gastronomy, love, care for nature and inherited historical heritage. Are you going to miss it?
The Costa Brava is an area of 214 kilometers of the northeast coast of Catalonia.
From Portbou to Cadaqués
Portbou – Colera – Llançà – Port de la Selva – Cadaqués
This is the northernmost area, bordering France. Full of inhospitable and practically deserted coves with blackish rocks and shallows overhanging the sea in a place combed by the Tramontana, which ends on the north side of the Natural Park of Cabo de Creus.
Villages such as Port de La Selva or Cadaqués offer beautiful views from the sea and between its narrow streets and white houses of the old fishermen who inhabited them.
From Cadaqués to Roses
Cadaqués – Cap de Creus – Roses
The south face of Cap de Creus opens up to shelter the bay of Roses. In this part of the Natural Park, we find wide coves protected from the dreaded Tramontana, open to the south.
We will find good anchorages of sand and rocks, where we can see the imposing cliffs full of pines, being able to enjoy the sunsets and the dawn in the most eastern end of the Iberian Peninsula.
From Roses to l’Escala
Roses – Castelló d’Empuries – Sant Pere Pescador – l’Escala
This large sandy bay offers few resources to boats since its vast size exposes it to the changing weather. Also, nearby towns such as the city of Roses, Sant Pere Pescador, Empuires or l’Escala offer all kind of activities one could wish for, like visiting the Greco-Roman ruins of Empuries, eating good rice in Roses, kite-surfing in Sant Pere Pescador or going to l’Escala for its famous anchovies.
From l’Escala to Begur
l’Escala – l’Estartit (Torroella de Montgrí) – Pals – Begur
It is a perfect area for coastal navigation and the enjoyment of the sea that represents this coast. With protected coves from north and south from l’Escala to the Marine Reserve of the Medes Islands, the bay of Pals and the Marine Reserve of Ses Negres in Begur.
Rocky bottoms in the coves and fine sand in the bay, take in the posidonia and sealife in the Medes Islands and enjoy the typical landscape of the place, where the pines grow on the rocks to the very edge of the sea.
From Begur to Palamós
Begur – Palafrugell – Mont-Ras – Tamariu – Llafranch – Palamós
Here the coast changes to reddish colors, well protected from the Tramontana, once we pass the cape of Begur we will feel the wind coming from the south.
Here we will find coves and corners with transparent waters of great scenic beauty, such as the characteristic Aiguafreda or the beach and the village of Tamariu.
From Palamos to Blanes
Palamós – Platja d’Aro – Sant Feliu de Guixols – Tossa de Mar – Lloret – Blanes
This area is becoming more popular and we find larger coastal towns as we get closer to Barcelona. The rocky coves bring us to the larger beaches and bays which make the nearby towns like Palamos, Sant Feliu, Platja d’Aro, Lloret or Blanes an enjoyable place.
It is a different environment, more urban and has the advantages of a wide selection of leisure, catering, sociability and more developed on the coast.