Sant Pere de Rodes monastery

If there is one adjective that fits the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes like a glove, then it’s “majestic”. It certainly fits the description, standing out for its solemnity and elegance. This 10th century Benedictine monastery overlooks the Cap de Creus Natural Park from the highest point of El Port de la Selva. Declared a cultural site of national interest, the complex is one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Girona, the most noteworthy elements being the church, the bell tower and the defence tower.

Since its construction in the 10th century the monastery has seen it all: centuries of splendour (when it controlled territories on both sides of the Pyrenees) followed by a period of decadence from the end of the 17th century , with constant sackings, etc., and now happier times as one of the key tourist attractions of the Costa Brava.

Girona

The city of Girona is one hour from Vilamaniscle. Its historical oldtown is one of the most beautiful ones in Catalonia and it contains monumental sites unique in the whole Europe.

A walk along its medieval walls offers exceptional views of the city and its surround. The same way, from some of the bridges that cross the river Onyar, you can enjoy one of the most emblematic visions of the city: the coloured houses.

The cathedral of Girona, built between the XIth and XVIIIth century and that mixes different styles, is worth being visited, as the Jewish quarter, one of better preserved in the world and that will move you to the medieval times.

All this along with many other wonderful corners in a city that needs a day visit.

Figueres and Dalí

Figueres, approximately 20 minutes from Vilamaniscle, is the capital of the region of Alt Empordà. This cozy city is characterized by its big cultural dynamism.

To walk along its streets and squares allows us to enjoy its architecture of the XIXth century and beginning of the XXth with singular buildings like the ancient slaughterhouse, the municipal theatre, the casino or the Church of Sant Pere. Also there can be some interesting museums as the Toy Museum of Catalonia or the Empordà Museum.

The obligatory visit in Figueres is the Theatre – Museum Dalí, a building of exceptional singularity, built on the ruins of the ancient Theatre of Figueres of the XIXth century after the Civil war. This building lodges numerous works of Dalí and turns out to be fundamental to understand the artistic trajectory of this original genius.

Empordà Wine Route

An unforgettable wine tourism experience awaits you in Empordà on the Costa Brava. The DO Empordà Wine Route immerses you in a deep-rooted tradition of the area, dating as far back as Roman times. Now you have the chance to experience this part of our gastronomic identity up close, discovering all the secrets of red, white and rosé Empordà wines.

Coastal Foothpaths

On one side, the green of the pine trees; on the other side, the blue of the sea. On the Costa Brava there are no walks more spectacular than the ones along the coastal footpaths, a wonderful way to discover small coves, vertiginous cliffs, charming beaches and other unmissable coastal beauty spots.

Aiguamolls de L’Empordà Natural Park

The Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park is one of the most outstanding areas on the Costa Brava. Its diversity and size will take your breath away. The park is a mosaic of distinct ecosystems: rivers, sea, lakes, wetlands, beaches and sandy areas, lagoons, meadows, pastures and cropland.

Brimming with life, many species of flora and fauna live here in their natural habitat. If you’re a keen birdwatcher, this is the place for you. This is an area of great biological and scenic value with flora such as yellow and blue lilies and fauna including over 300 bird species, such as storks, kingfishers, mallards and garganey (the park’s symbol), along with plenty of other species.

Natural Park Cap de Creus

In the north of the Costa Brava you’ll find one of the natural wonders of the counties of Girona, the Cap de Creus Natural Park. It contains a collection of beauty spots that will leave a lasting imprint on your memory. You won’t forget the views of the wild coastline with its vertiginous cliffs and hidden coves, and with islets scattered all along it. Neither will you forget the capriciously shaped rocks, sculpted by the wind and the erosion of the sea; with a little imagination you’ll be seeing lions, dragons, camels, eagles and other figures. You’ll also treasure the memory of the park’s interior, a biological paradise of forests and meadows that you can explore on endless excursions, stopping off in the peaceful towns of Llançà, El Port de la Selva, La Selva de Mar, Cadaqués, Roses, Palau-saverdera, Vilajuïga and Pau.

Albera Natural Park

The Serra de l’Albera, or Albera range of mountains, is the name given to the easternmost section of the Pyrenees, from Le Perthus to the sea. It separates the vast plains of the Empordà and those of Roussillon, and since the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, the crest of the range has formed part of the Franco-Spanish frontier. It is about 25 km long, and its principal peaks are Puig Neulós (1257 m), Puig dels Pastors (1167 m), Puig dels Quatre Termes (1156 m) and Pic de Sallafort (992 m). The Natural Zone of Declared National Interest of the Albera is situated in the north-east of the Alt Empordà, and forms part of the municipal areas of La Jonquera, Espolla and Rabós. The Natural Zone is itself made up of two quite distinct areas. The Western area, the sector around Requesens and Bausitges, has vegetation of a mid-European type, with humid woods of beech and oak; whilst the Eastern area, the sector around Sant Quirze de Colera, is Mediterranean, with vegetation of cork-oaks and brush where the last colonies of Mediterranean tortoise still survive. For further information: