Moving around the Baix Empordà
In the cove of Sa Riera in Begur, several boats rest on the sand. On the horizon, the outline of the Medes Islands. Image by Francesc Tur.
The Baix Empordà has a free guide with six routes to discover the attractions of the county. Although the routes are designed to be done by car, they also include short stretches on foot.
On the official tourism portal of Baix Empordà, you will find the description of each of these routes with audio description for people with blindness or low vision and with subtitles in Spanish and Catalan, and interpretation in Spanish and Catalan sign language for people with deafness or hearing difficulties. Click on this link and go to the bottom of the page, in the section “Publications and videos accessible to all”.
Drive through the Baix Empordà and discover the region in all its splendour.
The Montgrí and the Ter
The first route starts in the north of the county, specifically in Estartit. The Montgrí massif and the Medes Islands are the highlights of this itinerary. The route recommends a stop in Torroella de Montgrí, to see the remains of ancient towers and medieval walls, or in Verges, famous for the staging of the Dance of Death, which is performed on the night of Maundy Thursday.
The second route runs along the river Ter from Colomers to Fonollera beach, where it flows into the sea. On the route, the water and the fertile land around the river take centre stage. Some of the points of interest are the Colomers dam, from where there is a magnificent view of the Ter, and the Santa de Jafre spring, located at the foot of the road. The water that flows from this spring is said to have curative and miraculous powers.
The medieval villages and the Gavarres
The third route offers a tour of the medieval villages of the Empordanet. Villages such as Pals, Peratallada, Monells and Cruïlles stand out for the mediaeval structure of their old quarters and for the heritage elements they preserve from the Middle Ages. The route also passes through Púbol, home to the Gala Dalí castle-museum.
The fourth route starts in La Bisbal d’Empordà, known for its great ceramics tradition, and crosses the Gavarres massif through holm oak and cork oak forests. Before reaching Romanyà de la Selva, where the route ends, it passes the dolmen of the Daina cave, a megalithic tomb that is easy to access and very well preserved.
Beaches and La Vall d’Aro
The fifth route runs along much of the Baix Empordà coast from north to south, from Begur to Sant Antoni de Calonge. This itinerary is characterised by seaside architecture, beaches surrounded by pine forests and impressive cliffs. The route ends in the tourist towns of Palamós and Sant Antoni de Calonge.
The sixth route discovers the area of La Vall d’Aro and the Ardenya. The route starts in one of the main tourist centres on the Empordà coast, Platja d’Aro, and ends at the chapel of Sant Grau, on the edge of Baix Empordà. In between, tourist towns, historical and cultural elements and spectacular views of the Costa Brava sea.