CHOOSING YOUR FAVOURITE ROUTE

ROUTE 1: A walk through the Surrealismus

To enjoy this itinerary it is reccommended to divide it into two days.

We reccommend to visit the Dali Museum in Figueres in the morning because it is quieter. The visit lasts 2-3 hours. Once the visit is finished you can go for a walk in order to know the shopping center, the typical streeets of the town such as the Rambla, Peralada street, Casino Menestral, Girona street...

In 1997 the House-Museum in Portlligat was opened to the public. In the house, visitors can see the painter's workshop, the library, the bedrooms in which they lived their private life, the garden zone and swimming pool.

If you want to lunch in Figueres there are a lot of restaurants not far from the Dali Museum.

• Cafè Imperial a la Plaça Gala-Salvador Dalí
• La Paella al Corriol de les Bruixes, 10
• El Gallo Rojo a la Plaça de les Patates
• Restaurant xinès Shangay al Corriol de les Bruixes
• España al carrer La Jonquera, 26
• Antaviana al carrer LLers
• Mesón El Castell a la Pujada del Castell

However if you want to eat in Cadaqués there are also a lot of possibilites. Don't forget to book the visit in advance. Phone number: 972 25 80 63.

• Restaurant Sa Gambina al carrer Nemesio Llorens, s/n
• Restaurant Cala Bona a la carretera Portlligat, 71
• Restaurant Casa Anita al carrer Miquel Roset, 16
• Restaurant Vehí al carrer de l'Església, 6

It is very nice to walk through its small streets with white typical houses.

You can visit the Castle Gala-Dalí of Púbol the next day.

To reach Gala-Dalí-Castle Museum-House:

If you are coming along the A-7 motorway, take the Girona Nord exit and then the C-255 district road towards Palamós. Shortly after the town of Bordils and the crossroads to the town of Flaçà, take the right-hand road to La Pera and then Púbol. If you are coming from Figueres or Cadaqués, follow the C-252, and when you reach the Parlavà crossroads (traffic lights), turn right and this will take you out onto the C-255. Turn right again and go along for about 2 km, when the road to La Pera and Púbol turns off on your left. The visit lasts 1h 30 minuts. From here you can visit La Bisbal, the capital of the Handicrafts.

• Hostal Nou al carrer Prat de la Riba, 4
• La Cantonada al carrer del Bisbe, 6
• Restaurant el Gall Blanc al carrer de Ponent, 21
• Restaurant el Suquet al carrer Ramon de Cabrera, 52
• Restaurant la Llar a l'Avinguda President Companys, 2
• Restaurant la Masia a la carretera de Girona -Palamós, km 29

ROUTE 2: From the water covered land to the land of the past

To combine nature and culture is a good reason to begin this itinerary. The marshes are situated between Sant Pere Pescador and l'Escala.

Points to take into consideration:

• The Natural Park is largely located in an agricultural area where many people live. Try to make sure your visit is not a nuisance to them.
• The best period to see more species is during migration periods: March-May and August-October. Morning and early evening are the best times for watching birds in the marshes.
• Binoculars are indispensable. After rain, rubber boots should be worn. The more unobtrusively you are dressed, the less you will frighten the birds and the easier you will find it to watch them.
• In spring, summer and autumn, mosquito repellents are needed in some areas.
• Dogs must be kept on a lead on the paths through total reserves.
• Normally access to the lookout points and paths is unrestricted. However, for groups of over 15 persons and especially groups of schoolchildren, it is wise to obtain the services of a guide by phoning the Park Information Centre.
• Live no litter.
• Leave the marshes as clean as you found them or, if necessary, even cleaner.

We reccommend to visit it in 2 hours and in the morning.

Then, you can visit Sant Martí d'Empúries, a small medieval village next to the Ruins of Empúries. In the main square there are some restaurants where you can find different and typical dishes of the region.

During the summer time the ruins are open until 20.00h. and in winter until 18.00 h.

It is more interesting to visit it with a guide or an electric guide device which is offered in a lot of languages.

During July and August there is the opportunity to do the visit with a guide dressed as an ancient roman.

You will certainly enjoy this visit to the past but that's not all, because 2 km away we find the village of l'Escala, well known thanks to its Quality of Origin anchovies.

You can also go for a walk in l'Escala and its new promenade "Passeig de Riells" in front of the sea. Another important activity is to enjoy the cuisine, very well known in all the province.

• Restaurant Ca la Neus al Passeig del Mar, 8
• Restaurant els Pescadors al Port d'en Perris, 6
• Restaurant Hostal El Roser al carrer de l'Església, 6
• Restaurant El Roser II, Passeig Marítim, 1
• Restaurant Navili al Port de l'Escala s/n
• Restaurant El Molí de l'Escala al Camí de les Corts, s/n
• Restaurant Cala Riells al Camí Ample, 48

And, at night if you like l'Escala offer a friendly and various night entertainment.

ROUTE 3: From the start of Costa Brava to the origin of Romanic

To reach the Cap de Creus take the main road towards Cadaqués. Before the village of Cadaqués you will find the road which goes to the Cap de Creus, the far eastern road of the Iberian Peninsula.

It is the first marine-land park of Catalonia. The coast-of great landscape value- is quite rugged and savage, with breathtaking cliffs and concealed caves. With this rich natural heritage yo'll enjoy a fantastic sightseeing.

Amateur or recreational rod fishing is allowed throughout the Natural Park, with the exception of the undeveloped nature reserve of the island of Encalladora. Recreational fishing is prohibited in both the partial nature reserve and the undeveloped nature reserve. There are however specific regulations as regards this recreational fishing.

It must be mentioned that the Long Distance Walking Paths GR11 and GR92 pass through this area which provides for very interesting walks.

You can also visit el Port de la Selva which enjoys an extensive municipal area that is very rich geologically, with rocks that are mainly of metamorphic in origin and a significant diversity of flora and anima species that have adapted to the surroundings. It is a small coastal village. It is a very quiet village, far from noise and pollution and with idyllic beaches and a fascinating scenery.

A visit to Verdera mountain provides a view of the Romanesque period with the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, the Church of Santa Elena and the old town of Santa Creu that was destroyed and the Castle of Sant Salvador. From here there is an extraordinary view of the Empordà region and of Cap de Creus.

• Restaurant al carrer Major, 54
• Restaurant Bellavista al carrer Platja, 3
• Restaurant el Port al carrer del Mar, 21
• Restaurant Monterrey al carrer Platja, 2
• Restaurant l'Àncora al carrer Mar, 1

Route 4: Getting to know the Natural Park of Albera Range

The Albera Range Natural Park has a lot of things to discover. The Albera boasts a rich heritage of Romanesque architecture, the style that prevailed during the high Middle Ages when settlements in the area were consolidated. One of the greatest concentrations of megalithic monuments in Catalonia, dating bach to the period between the middle Neolithic and Chalcolithic is located on the southern slopes of the range.

Due to its extension we reccommend to divide this route into two differents ityneraries.

Day 1

First you could visit the Albera tortoise centre. This centre is located beside the chapel of Mare de Déu del Camp (Garriguella). It was set up to promote the reproduction and conservation of the Mediterranean tortoise, a species whose numbers have declined alarmingly in recent years.

Then you can visit the village and the wine cooperative where you can tast the different types of wine of the Empordà.

Garriguella offers a lot of restaurants and is a good place to take a break.

• Restaurant la Vinya a la carretera de Portbou, km 54
• Restaurant Garriguella a la Plaça de Noves, 1
• Restaurant Molí de Vent al Molí de Vent, s/n
• Restaurant Can Batlle a la Plaça de Baix, 9
• Restaurant Bar Colón al carrer Gran, 23
• Restaurant Turó de la Perdiu a la carretera de Portbou, s/n

After eating you can take the path to reach the Monastery of Sant Quirze de Colera. You can walk through the valley and visit the remains of this Monastery and also the church of Santa Maria de Colera. It is a Benedictine monastery documented as far back as the 10 th century, of which the magnificent basilican church and remains of the cloister, other monastic buildings and fortifications can still be seen.

If you have enough time you can take the road to Rabós, towards Espolla, where there is the information point of the Albera range. In Rabós d'Empordà you will find megalithic monuments.

The landscape is also very interesting. You will enjoy finding the megalithic tombs: la Cabana, Arqueta, la Font del Roure or the Menhir of Castellar.

As a curiosity, there are still megalithic monuments not documented because the extension is considerable.

Day 2

To reach Capmany you can take the same road as in the last itinerary or taking the N-II road direction La Jonquera and France where you will find a crossroads, to Capmany and Sant Climent. It depends where you are located.

Sant Climent is a small village but there is situated the military base that receives the same name as the village. Between rocks and vegetation are the dolmen of the Gutina and the menhir of la Murtra o Pedra Gentil.

Sant Climent is also a very well known village thanks to its wines and cooperative.

From here we can reach Capmany where there is a path which goes to Estanys de la Jonquera.

It is an area of small lakes and ponds at the southern tip of the borough of La Jonquera, adjacent to Cantallops and Capmany. The Estany Gros (3.5 ha) is the only lake which contains water all year round. During the migration season, many birds find rest and food here, especially those which have to fly northwards across the Pyrenees in the face of the powerful north wind, the tramontane. The presence of water throughout the year also makes this area a favourite breeding spot for many animal species, particularly amphibeans. The area is protected under the Pla General d'Urbanisme of la Jonquera and under the Pla d'Espais d'Interès Natural (PEIN), approved by decree 328 on 14 December 1992.

After the long walk you can eat in Cantallops before visit the Castle of Requesens.

• Restaurant Can Tomàs a la Pujada de l'Església, 1
• Restaurant Can Pau als Afores, s/n

In the afternoon you can go to the Castle of Requesens. To reach Requesens, take the local road from la Jonquera to Cantallops, and then the forest track 6 km long which branches off towards the hamlet, shrine and castle of Requesens. There are various footpaths through the woods in this part of the nature area. The Castle is situated south of Puig Neulós and was altered at the end of the 19th century in the fanciful manner of the so-called Romantic architects made fashionable in France by Viollet-le-Duc.

You can visit the castle individually, without guide.

From here you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Albera range and Alt Empordà.

Route 5: To the mountain

Now we reccommend that you visit the villages next to the nearby area, la Garrotxa. First, you should visit Terrades and the chapel of Mare de Déu de la Salut. It is a good place to prepare meals outdoors because there are facilities like: tables, benchs, fountains, barbecues.... In Terrades you can also go for a walk, it is a tipycal village of l'Empordà with its ancients bridges and its church in Romanesque style.

From here you can visit the chapel of Santa Magdalena, there is a 45 minuts walk, from here you can see the reservoir of Boadella and the surrounding villages.

If you don't want to eat outdoors, in la Salut there is also a restaurant where typical dishes are offered.

In the afternoon you can reach Sant Llorenç de la Muga and Albanyà. Both villages are very quite and with charme.

The village Sant Llorenç de la Muga is surrounded by walls and dates from the XIV-XV centuries, it is full of interesting points such as the church, streets, lookouts... The river Muga cross the village and it is a very nice place to go for a walk, fishing, or take a bath.

In Albanyà it is important the ancient door of the walls and the church which dates from X-XI centuries. The river Muga begins here its itinerary through the Empordà.

A large variety of fauna and flora are to be found in mountainous areas within the village boundary. This region offers its visitor a very varied gastronomy. Local dishes are available at the local restaurants.

Route 6: In the boundaries of the Alt Empordà

DAY 1

Now you know almost all Alt Empordà. However we reccommend to go to the woods of the Bassegoda mountain.

The itinerary will begin in Darnius, next to the Boadella reservoir. Here you can spend a whole day because it is a beautiful landscape. The reservoir is a centre of sightseeings and water sports.

The Castle of Mont-roig is situated 4 km SE of Darnius. During the Big War "Guerra Gran" and due to its position, between France and Spain, was destroyed and know there are only ruines. However it is a fantastic place to remember the history and enjoy a wonderful landscape.

And we go from a castle to a chapel. In the road from Darnius to Maçanet there is the crossroads which leads to "Sant Esteve del Llop" chapel. It was built in romanesque style.

You are in a place full of dolmens and menhirs so that we don't forget the Dolmen Caneres, situated in the opposite side of the chapel. It is necessary to walk 2 km.

After go for a walk in this fields you must take the path to Maçanet de Cabrenys where you will arrive through a narrow but quite and shady road. Reccommended sights not to be missed include a visit to the XII century romanesque church of Saint Martí, the Bar of Rotlan, Saint Sebastian's Chapel ( 17th century), the Cabrera Castle (11th. century) and Our Lady of Salines Chapel situated at an altitude of 1100 meters in a breathtaking landscape with a view of the Empordà, Vallespir and Rosselló surrounding regions.

One can go hunting, mountain bike riding, horse riding, rambling or idle one's time away mushroom picking. In its rivers one can fish trout, barbels and eels among others.

Maçanet offers its visitor a very varied gastronomy. Local dishes are available at the local restaurants.

• Restaurant El Corral de La Falgarona al Corral de la Falgarona
• Can Mach al Llogarret de Tapis
• Can Tenli al carrer Dòmines, 11
• Hostal la Quadra al carrer Rectoria, 11
• Molí d'en Robert al carrer Molí d'en Robert
• Cal Ratero al carrer Dòmines, 6
• Can Coll a la carretera Tapis, 1
• Hotel Pirineos al carrer Borriana, 10
• Hotel Els Caçadors a la Urb. Casanova, s/n
• Hotel La Central a Costa Margarida
• Restaurant Les Salines a la Mare de Déu de les Salines (Obert a l'estiu)

DAY 2

From Darnius you can reach Agullana and so to complete the routes of mountain. Agullana is now a quite village in despite of the fact that in the XVIIIth. century was the center of the cork industry.

The village is prepared for the inhabitants and also to welcome tourists who come in weekend or on holiday. There are buildings built in modernist style and also the church Santa Maria in romanesque style, that fact makes it different from the rest of villages.

From here you can reach la Vajol, a small village, with a few inhabitants. It isn't a very ancient village. La Vajol is very known because during the Civil War, the exiled politics came to France through this village.

From la Vajol you can reach the Chapel of Salines. It is a beautiful path which starts in the village. You will pass very near of the Cabrera castle, a fortification situated in a small mountain, it dates from the XIth century. Next to the chapel you will find a fountain with clean and fresh water. If you visit it in summer you can eat outdoors. If you prefer a restaurant, there are some possibilities:

Agullana

• Restaurant la Font d'Avall al carrer Lluís Comis, 15
• Restaurant la Pinyareda a Urb. Pinyareda, 11
• Restaurant Pagès al carrer Joaquim Bech de Careda, 4

La Vajol

• Restaurant Bar les Illes al carrer Illes, 3
• Restaurant Hostal de la Vajol a la Plaça Major, 4

ROUTE 7: The wine route

It is difficult to make a small wine route because a lot of villages of the Empordà have cooperative and they make its own delicious wines and champagnes.

A good opportunity to taste all these wines is in "Mostra del Vi de l'Alt Empordà", a fair of wine where you can taste the wine of each village. It is held arround the 11 of September and lasts 3 days.

We will give the names of each cooperative and where are situated.

However we reccommend a small itinerary which includes Peralada and its Castle and Casino. The Castle gives you the possibility to visit 3 peculiar museums:

• Glass and pottery museum
• Wine museum
• Librery

This visits are guided and lasts arround 1 hour.

The Romans who arrived at Peralada around the 2nd Century B.C, with their wine merchandises, could hardly imagine that two thousend years later Peralada would be specially known for its production of wine and champagne.

In Mollet de Peralada you can visit the cooperative of wine and taste the typical products of the region.

If you want to eat in a restaurant in Mollet:

• Restaurant Ca la Maria al carrer Unió, 5

If on the contrary you want to eat in Peralada:

• Bar-Restaurant Cafè del Centre a l'Avinguda Principal, 1
• Restaurant Grill Can Palol al carrer Recasens, 7
• Restaurant Cal Sagristà al carrer Rodona, 2
• Restaurant Castell de Peralada
• Bar-Restaurant Obra Social al carrer Sant Joan, 23

WINE CELLAR

If you would to expand the itinerary we give other different cooperatives also in the Alt Empordà.

**If you have'nt choose your accomodation yet, in these different villages you will find a lot of country houses of rural tourism.

Index of reccommended sightseeings