Castelló d'Empúries
Castelló d'Empúries is a town of 11,600 people (2022) in Costa Brava. It has an historic old town and a basilica.
Understand
Castelló d'Empúries is a town and municipality in the Alt Empordà. It lies 9 km east of Figueres.
In 1079, Castelló d'Empúries became the capital of the Empúries county due to the previous capital, Sant Martí d'Empúries, being too easily sacked by pirates. 1325-1341 saw a period of large expansion of this capital town, which ultimately ceased being the capital once the county joined the Crown of Aragon in 1385.
The old town is somewhat dwarfed by the neighboring urbanisation of Empuriabrava
- 🌍 Tourist office, Plaça de Jaume I.
Get in
By plane
The nearest airports are Girona-Costa Brava (GRO IATA, in Spain) and Perpignan–Rivesaltes (PGF IATA, In France)
By railway
Figueres has a high-speed train station, connected to Madrid and Barcelona and also to France's high-speed trains
By car
From France: The A-9 ( E-15 ) from Montpellier and Perpignan to the Spanish border. Then the AP-7 ( E-15 )until Figueres.
The road to Roses C-260 connects it with the county seat, Figueres (10 km away) as well as with the town of Roses (10 km away). A regular bus line connects the town with the municipalities along this important county axis.
See
- The historic center of the town. It is in the heart of the urban area, surrounded by the streets Portal de la Mercè, de la Muralla, del Mur, Cabra, Monturiol, and the course of the Rec del Molí. The nucleus developed around the church of Santa Maria.
- 🌍 Basilica of Santa Maria. Also known as the Cathedral of the Empordà or the Cathedral of Castelló d'Empúries, it is a large Gothic building that was constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries. Parts of the temple are based on a previous Romanesque building,
- 🌍 The palace of the counts. It was founded in 1317 outside the city walls, similar to the other palaces that existed in Castelló at that time. When Count Pere II passed away, he bequeathed the palace to the Dominican friars in 1402. However, the transfer to the palace and the construction of the new house did not begin until the late 17th century. These works started in 1698 but were suspended due to the War of Succession. They were not resumed until the 18th century.
- 🌍 Ecomuseum-Flour Mill (Ecomuseu-Farinera). At the Ecomuseum-Flour Mill, the secrets of making flour are revealed. Throughout the three floors of the factory, different machines of great beauty are found, showcasing the complex production process. Dating from the late 19th and the first half of the 20th century, they demonstrate great ingenuity in the process. Together with the warmth of the melis, flandes, and Galician pine wood structures, the visual and aesthetic impact of the complex, the cleanliness of the factory, and the authenticity of what you see make the Flour Mill an unforgettable experience for everyone.
- 🌍 Llotja de Contractació, Plaça de Joan Alsina. The building was built towards the end of the 14th century or the beginning of the 15th century, in the same period as the market square in the Plaza Mayor, seat of the consulate of the sea and also the house of the council, in a period of economic expansion of the town. Several authors have attributed to it the functions of a market for the procurement of goods, complementary to the Llotja de Mar, and it has also been interpreted as part of the customs house or as an auxiliary building of the church of Santa Maria, probably a workshop for stonemasons.
- Visit Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park
Do
Hiking
- Long range: the GR 92 crosses the village
Mountain bike
- The Pirinexus route crosses the city
Zoo
- 🌍 Butterfly Park, Carrer de Santa Clara, ☏ +34 972 450 761, info@butterflypark.es. 10:00 until 1h before sunset. tropical garden . discover the fascinating world of butterflies, toucans, turtles, parrots and many other exotic animals. € 12 – Adult, € 8 – Child (4 – 11).
Golf
- 🌍 Pitch & Putt Castelló Empuriabrava, Carrer de la Closa dels Frares, ☏ +34 972 156210, info@golfcastello.com. 18 hole Pitch & Putt
Eat
- 🌍 Les Voltes, Plaça dels Homes 4.
- 🌍 Portal de la Gallarda, Carrer de Pere Estany.
- 🌍 restaurant Emporium, Carrer de Santa Clara 31, ☏ +34 972 25 05 93, info@emporiumhotel.com. Tu-Su 13:00-15:00, 20:00-22:00.
- La terraza del Hostal Emporda, Avenida Generalitat, 12, ☏ +34 972 25 06 14.
Drink
- 🌍 Taverna Silenus, Plaça Jacint Verdaguer 6, ☏ +34972250505.
Sleep
- 🌍 Hotel Canet, Plaça del Joc de la Pilota 2, ☏ +34 972 25 03 40.
- 🌍 Hotel de la Moneda, Carrer de la Moneda 8, ☏ +34 972 15 86 02..
- 🌍 Hotel Emporium, Carrer de Santa Clara 31, ☏ +34 972 25 05 93..
- 🌍 hostal emporda, Avda. Generalitat, 12, ☏ +34 972 250 614.
- 🌍 Hostal Ca l'Anton, Carrer Santa Clara 23, ☏ +34 972250509.
Connect
As of Jan 2024, Castelló d'Empúries and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers.