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41-538: Vallvidrera used to be a cool summer retreat where wealthy people from Barcelona had their summer houses. Now the wealthy live in this neighbourhood all year round and have their summer retreats in further places inside Catalonia, such as the Costa Brava (for summer vacations) or Puigcerda (for winter vacations). Vallvidrera can be reached by the Funicular de Vallvidrera , which connects at its lower station with

82-779: A coincidence that the name Costa Brava resembles Costa Blava (the Catalan designation of the French Riviera ), which is a literal translation of the Spanish Costa Azul ("Blue Coast"). This in turn is a not-quite-literal translation of the French Côte d'Azur ("Azure Coast"); azul has the same etymology as azur , but it is the general Spanish term for blue, not specifically azure. A direct translation from French to Catalan would have yielded Costa d'Atzur . There are several, slightly differing, definitions of

123-469: A cuisine based on a combination of quality seafood and the best produce of the land. The wines of Alt and Baix Empordà fall under the auspices of the DO Empordà regulatory body. Wines have been grown in the region for over 2,500 years, but in the middle of the 20th century, the quality declined greatly in favor of producing cheap, bulk wines aimed at visiting beach tourists. A focus on quality returned to

164-498: A holiday destination, mainly for package holiday tourists from Northern Europe and especially, the United Kingdom and France. The combination of a very good summer climate, nature, excellent beaches, and a favourable foreign exchange rate was exploited by the construction of large numbers of hotels and apartments in such seaside resorts as Blanes , Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar . Tourism rapidly took over from fishing as

205-553: A holiday destination, mainly for package holiday tourists from Europe. The combination of a very good summer climate, nature, excellent beaches and a favourable foreign exchange rate (before the creation of the single European currency), which made the Costa Brava an attractive tourist destination, was exploited by the construction of large numbers of hotels and apartments in such seaside resorts as Blanes , Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar . Tourism rapidly took over from fishing as

246-629: A much lesser extent. In 1998, the coastal towns of the Costa Brava signed a charter, called the Carta de Tossa , which undertook to pursue environmental protection, along with tourism. This recognised the value of the region's wide range of natural habitats and microclimates . The Medes Islands off the coast of L'Estartit are in Spain's first marine reserve and provide a home to a wide range of fish and aquatic flora. The nearby wildfowl reserve on marshlands at Aiguamolls de l'Empordà also saved land from

287-681: A number of festivals in Costa Brava that stand out above the rest in terms of their history, originality or colour. These include the procession Dansa de la Mort (Dance of Death) in Verges on Maundy Thursday and the Dance of Death, with characters donning skeleton outfits dancing in the streets, the living Way of the Cross in Sant Hilari Sacalm , the floral carpet festival in Arbúcies ,

328-486: A popular location with Spanish and foreign studios and directors, who have filmed high-profile films in the area with stellar casts and production values. The commercial success and media buzz created by these productions has made certain locations known all over the world. Sant Feliu de Guíxols was the most popular location in the counties of Girona for cinema producers and the second-most popular in all Catalonia (after Barcelona ). These results are logical enough:

369-408: A source of inspiration for many writers. This is clear to see in the countless books dedicated to the area and the thousands that have been written here. Josep Pla , Federico García Lorca , Truman Capote , Salvador Espriu , Joan Maragall and Caterina Albert are just some of these famous writers. Over the course of its history, especially over the last one hundred years, the Costa Brava has been

410-485: A stretch of beach and marshlands, are the towns of Pals , Begur and Palafrugell . At this point the Gavarres Massif meets the sea, with a coast marked by rugged cliffs, small bays and beaches amid coastal villages such as Aiguafreda  [ ca ] , Fornells , Tamariu , Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell . The town of Palamós , further south, is a major commercial and fishing port. At this point,

451-670: Is Banyoles , the capital of the comarca of the Pla de l'Estany , on the shore of the Lake of Banyoles . Both the Gironès and the Pla de l'Estany are the inland comarques of the Costa Brava. The main rivers that pour their waters into the Costa Brava are: Costa Brava has a typical Mediterranean climate , mild and temperate, characterised by hot, dry summers and moderately cold winters. The annual average temperature ranges from 7 to 28 °C, while

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492-590: Is a coastal region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain . Sources differ on the exact definition of the Costa Brava. Usually it can be regarded as stretching from the town of Blanes , 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Barcelona , to the French border – in other words it consists of the coast of the province of Girona . In the 1950s, the Costa Brava was identified by the Spanish government and local entrepreneurs as being suitable for substantial development as

533-973: Is known for its connection with renowned Chilean author Roberto Bolaño . The great artistic collection is a set of nearly fifty museums and collections listed among the five counties that make up the name of the Costa Brava. From north to south: in L'Escala in Castelló d'Empúries in Figueres in Torroella de Montgrí in Palafrugell in Sant Feliu de Guíxols in Banyoles in Girona : in Tossa de Mar Catalonia has three official languages, Catalan , Castillian Spanish and Aranese , although

574-694: Is one of the most important and visited museums in Catalonia. One can also visit Dalí's House-Museum in Port Lligat , near Cadaqués and the Castle of Púbol in Púbol . The coast between Roses and Tossa de Mar has many delightful small coastal towns, such as Pals , Begur , Tamariu , S'Agaró , Empuriabrava , Llafranc , L'Estartit , Aigua Blava , Fornells , Calella de Palafrugell , Calonge , Palamós and Sant Feliu de Guíxols . Further south, Blanes

615-562: Is the Catalan and Spanish word for 'coast', while Brava in both languages means 'rugged' or 'wild'. This term was officially recognized and promoted in the 1960s as it was deemed suitable to promote tourism in the region. Before Costa Brava became the official name, other names were suggested, such as Costa Grega (Greek Coast), Costa del Corall (Coral Coast), Costa Serena (Serene Coast), Costes de Llevant (Levant Coasts) or Marina de l'Empordà (Empordà Marine). It may or may not be

656-639: Is the southernmost town on the Costa Brava and is the third most populous municipality of the Province of Girona . In the middle of the Costa Brava, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) inland from the Mediterranean Sea , lies Girona , the capital of the comarca of Gironès and the Province of Girona . The city has a population of almost 100,000 and lies at the confluence of the Onyar , Güell , Galligants and Ter rivers. Ten kilometres north of Girona

697-745: The Hobby Horse dance in Sant Feliu de Pallerols , the Ball del Cornut and La Plantada de l'Arbre (The Planting of the Tree) of May in Cornellà del Terri ... not to mention the major music festivals, some of them internationally renowned, such as Peralada Castle , Cap Roig Garden Festival in Calella de Palafrugell and Torroella de Montgrí festivals, which draw world-class performers, as well as opera and contemporary music figures. The Costa Brava has been

738-883: The Metro del Vallès suburban railway with frequent services to the city center. The neighborhood is also served by minibus line 111, which connects to the upper station of the Vallvidrera funicular and the top of the Tibidabo hill . Other than the Funicular and the Bus, the most common type of transportation is the private one. 41°24′54″N 2°06′31″E  /  41.41500°N 2.10861°E  / 41.41500; 2.10861 Costa Brava The Costa Brava ( Catalan: [ˈkɔstə ˈβɾaβə] ; Spanish: [ˈkosta ˈβɾaβa] ; "Wild Coast" or "Rough Coast")

779-612: The Muga and Fluvià rivers, with the protected areas of the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà along the coast. Empuriabrava , part of the municipality of Castelló d'Empúries , is one of the largest marinas in the world, built in the 1960s on the marshlands of the River Muga. Further south lies the town of Sant Pere Pescador and the coastal town of L'Escala . Between this two towns is the village of Sant Martí d'Empúries , which lies near

820-408: The comarca of Selva , whose capital is Santa Coloma de Farners , about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Mediterranean Sea . Tossa de Mar is located to the north of the coastline, with several resorts and small bays along the littoral. Lloret de Mar , located to the south of Tossa, is the largest resort on the Costa Brava, with a population of over 200,000 at its peak during the summer. Blanes

861-427: The Costa Brava is a potent area full of beauty and diversity, located close to the historical city of Girona with an old quarter that holds a huge amount of visual possibilities. Gastronomy plays an important role of the Costa Brava. Anchovies from L'Escala , prawns from Palamós , monkfish from Roses , blue fish from Sant Feliu de Guíxols , rock fish from Begur or skate from Tossa de Mar represent

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902-489: The Costa Brava with their glamour , as did Salvador Dalí , Marc Chagall , Dani Karavan (sculptor of the monument to Walter Benjamin in Portbou ), Ramon Pichot and many others. The Costa Brava was a natural film set where producers find the charm that inspires them to create stories starring world-famous actors. Artists also find inspiration for their works and the peace and quiet necessary to produce them. From

943-589: The Costa Brava, between the towns of Castelló d'Empúries - Empuriabrava , Sant Pere Pescador and Roses , this park is the second largest of its kind in Catalonia , as a great number of native species flora and fauna. It is divided into two areas, north and south of the River Muga , comprising the characteristic elements of the landscape of the Alt Empordà . Located in the interior of the southern part of

984-449: The Costa Brava, in Arbúcies ( Selva ), Montseny Massif is the largest and highest part of the Catalan pre-coastal mountain range, straddling the provinces of Barcelona and Girona . One of the main values of the massif lies in the extreme variability of environments presents significant result of altitudinal gradients and vegetation and the diversity of its relief. Oak and pine forests, forests of cork oaks, oaks and beech trees are some of

1025-672: The Costa Brava: The northernmost part of the Costa Brava belongs to the comarca of Alt Empordà , and is marked by the Albera Massif and Cap de Creus , the easternmost prolongation of the Pyrenees . This area near the frontier is marked by rough terrain and cliffs, with small bays along the coast, in contrast with the large plains of the Alt Empordà region, where its capital Figueres is located. The first town from

1066-456: The birthplace and place of residence of artists from various disciplines. Several political, intellectual and social figures have passed through or stayed on the Costa Brava, which has contributed to transforming it and boosting its profile both at home and abroad. Artists and actors in particular have helped to give the area a glamorous image. Elizabeth Taylor , Ava Gardner , Orson Welles , Yves Montand and Douglas Fairbanks all graced

1107-517: The border with France is Portbou , which grew around the railway station. A little down the coast are the seafaring villages of Colera and Llançà . North of the Cap de Creus lies the town of El Port de la Selva , while on its south lie the towns of Cadaqués and Roses . To the south of the Cap de Creus is found the Gulf of Roses , which stretches for fifteen kilometres with beaches and marshlands formed by

1148-484: The coast forms a bay between Palamós and Sant Antoni de Calonge , part of the town of Calonge . South of it lies the town of Castell-Platja d'Aro , including Platja d'Aro , a large tourist resort that has grown along a wide beach. Situated to the south are S'Agaró and the town of Sant Feliu de Guixols , which lies to the north-east of the Ardenya Massif . The southernmost part of the Costa Brava belongs to

1189-460: The early days of cinema, the Costa Brava featured in many films, which has proved on many occasions to be an added value in boosting its profile as a tourist destination even further. The attraction of the Costa Brava for local producers and filmmakers from the local area and from Catalonia in general is perfectly understandable given its geographical proximity and its highly interesting yet easily accessible locations of all kinds. It has also proved

1230-536: The gradual breaking down of Spain's international isolation in the 1950s cleared the way for new options in tourism. The sea and the sun were drawing increasing numbers of people, which combined with the Côte d'Azur already being overcrowded in those days, enhanced the appeal of Costa Brava for holiday-makers who made their way there. In the 1950s, the Costa Brava was identified by the Spanish government and local entrepreneurs as being suitable for substantial development as

1271-628: The highest temperatures are recorded in the months of July and August. Until after the First World War , the beaches along the coast of Catalonia served for Sunday leisure pursuits for the local people, plus one or two from neighbouring villages. While world tourism had discovered the Côte d'Azur by that time, the Costa Brava remained unknown to it. A few years after the Spanish Civil War when some sort of order had been restored,

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1312-647: The latter is only generally spoken only in the Val d'Aran . Most of the local population of the Costa Brava habitually speak Catalan, and most are also fluent in Castillian Spanish. The following public holidays are celebrated throughout the Costa Brava: In addition to these, and through an order from the Ministry of Employment, there will be two local festivals, to be paid and not recoverable, at

1353-668: The potential ravages of development. Three Parks are present in the geography of the Costa Brava. Protection law in this area becomes the Cap de Creus Natural Park, located north of the Costa Brava, in Port de la Selva, one of the most unusual in the Iberian Peninsula . Determined as protected areas the municipalities of El Port de la Selva , La Selva de Mar , Roses , Cadaqués , Palau Saverdera, Pau and Vilajuïga , with an area of 13,886 hectares spread over 10,813 hectares of land and 3,073 of maritime space. Located in north of

1394-595: The principal business of the area. The coast was named Costa Brava by Ferran Agulló i Vidal  [ ca ] in an article published in the Catalan newspaper La Veu de Catalunya in September 1908. Agulló, a journalist born in Girona , referred to the rugged landscape of the Mediterranean coast which runs from the River Tordera , near Blanes , to Banyuls with the name Costa Brava . Costa

1435-476: The principal business of the area. While part of the Costa Brava coastline lent itself to tourist developments on a very large scale, other parts have retained a more traditional look. Small towns like Cadaqués , which is close to the French border and close to the foothills of the Pyrenees , have attracted artists, such as Salvador Dalí , Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso . The Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres

1476-602: The proposal of the respective municipalities. Pablo Casals , Manuel de Falla and Isaac Albéniz are some of the great figures who have left their mark on the Costa Brava. However, one of the first music festival organisers was Josep Ensesa, who opened the doors and gardens of Senya Blanca, his house in S'Agaró, to music lovers in 1956 with a series of concerts christened the International Music Festival. The success of this festival led other Costa Brava towns to host similar events and nowadays almost all

1517-532: The ruins of the ancient Greek colony of Empúries , founded in 575 BC. The central part of the Costa Brava belongs to the comarca of Baix Empordà , whose capital is La Bisbal d'Empordà , with the Montgrí Massif extending on its north, from L'Escala to the village of L'Estartit , part of the municipality of Torroella de Montgrí . The River Ter pours its water at this point, near a small archipelago known as Medes Islands . Further south, following

1558-436: The sea, while turnips from Campmany , onions from Vilabertran and Figueres , rice from Montgrí , beans and peas from Vall d'Aro and apples from Girona represent the land in an elegant fusion of sea and mountain that constitutes the Costa Brava cuisine. However, the gastronomic richness of the Costa Brava is not restricted to its cuisine. Over 2,500 restaurants throughout the counties of Girona welcome diners with

1599-405: The shape almost a forest landscape while serving as a refuge for many animal species typical of environmental contexts of higher latitude. More than 30% of the total surface of Girona consist of protected areas of special natural interest: Alt Empord%C3%A0 Alt Empordà ( Catalan: [ˈal əmpuɾˈða] ; Spanish: Alto Ampurdán ; "Upper Empordà") is a comarca (county) located in

1640-544: The towns on the Costa Brava hold annual musical events. Music forms part of the character of many towns and of the several events held by them over the course of the year. However, it is in the summer when emblematic venues such as gardens , covered squares, cloisters , monasteries or waterside venues host internationally renowned musical and cultural events. These summer events showcase all kinds of music, including classical music, pop and rock , havaneres (colonial sea shanties) and Catalan sardana music. But there are

1681-875: The winemaking due to smaller wineries opening, starting in the mid-1990s. Now, the wines from the region have been subject to high scores and recognition from international critics and have even become the focus of guides created solely for enotourism . For red varieties, Carignan (legally required to be 'Samsó' on the label) is prevalent, forming the basis of Empordà viniculture, together with Grenache (sometimes known in Empordà as Lledoner ). These traditional varieties are complemented by new ones that are being introduced: Tempranillo , Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Syrah , and Marselan . The most popular white varieties are Grenache Blanc , Grenache and Macabeo . Muscat , Xarel·lo recently planted Chardonnay , Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer grapes are also grown, but to

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