The Empordà

The Empordà is one of the oldest and important historical regions in Catalunya. Located to the northeast of the Catalan Land, it is constituted by two separate sectors: for the oriental part of the montains, Them Gavarres and the mountains of Begur, among those that step opens up the corridor of Palafrugell. The northern sector is formed by the flatest part in the district, an area of swamps (in other times taken advantage as rice fields) and of fissures in the interior. From the end of Sant Sebastià until to the south, the coast is more narrow and rougher, clipped by the buttresses of Them Gavarres, and that who unites from the bay of Palamós until the Vall d'Aro.

The geographical characteristics of the Baix Empordà has favored the development of different important towns (The Bisbal, Torroella of Montgrí, Palafrugell, Palamós, Sant Feliu of Guíxols), become centers of tourist attractiveness.

The base of the economy is the agrícultura, nevertheless the industry with the time was him removing the relief: the traditional industry of the cork; the typical ceramic of The Bisbal; the fishing, even active in Palamós and in other ports that exists. But the Empordà is a basically tourist district. The sector of the Costa Brava has corners of great beauty and towns of high tourist concentration.

The interior possesses the special attractiveness that confers him the landscape, the vitality of some of its populations, the rich medieval architecture that their castles and old nuclei like Cruïlles conserve, Peratallada, Calonge, Pals, etc. To part of notables samples of the Catalan románico, it can also be a rich gastronomic area. Josep Pla, exception columnist, named this area like the Empordanet, since all these elements, together with people's character, open and venturesome, they have made grow a high number of artists, writers, political and action men that provide to the district an enviable attractiveness.

LA BISBAL D'EMPORDÀ

Capital of the district, with a great tradition ceramist that has given place to an important industry of tiles and ceramic pavements, and to one appreciated ornamental ceramic. In the Jewish neighborhood, we can find a magnificent castle, of origin románico, built by the bishop of Girona in the XI century.

PERATALLADA

One of the best groups in the medieval architecture of the ampurdán: castle-strength, with their tower, palace and walls very well conserved and, in outside, San Esteban's church románica. At the moment, one of the towns more visited by their architectural charm and the presence of a high number of good restaurants.

MONELLS

Important market town in the Half Age, has some streets porticadas, of among which is necessary to stress the biggest square, surrounded of arches, and the parochial church of Gothic style with Baroque entrance.

PALS

To the west of Begur, located above a hill, it dominates the extensive plain of the beach of Pals. To highlight, The Pedró, beautiful restored monumental group, with San Pedro's Gothic church, the tower románica of the Hours, the old walls with their towers and doors. Give of the tower of Rom a magnificent panoramic it is sighted.

FONTETA

Small town located the foot of the solid one of "Them Gavarres", from which you leave the Escola of Ceràmica. Remain silent paved and old very typical town houses of the Empordà. In their municipal term he/she is the millennial hermitage of Fitor, different dolmens and until some oven of lime.