Costa Brava is a coastal region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. The exact definition of the Costa Brava varies from source to source, but it can be seen as extending from the city of Blancs, 60 kilometres (37 miles) northeast of Barcelona, to the French border. Girona.
In the 1950s, the Spanish government and local entrepreneurs identified the Costa Brava as suitable for significant development as a holiday destination for package holiday tourists, primarily from Europe. A very good summer climate, nature, great beaches and favorable exchange rates (before the creation of a single European currency) combine to make the Costa Brava an attractive tourist destination, with numerous hotels and apartments in seaside resorts such as Blanes, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar. Tourism quickly replaced fishing as the main activity in the region.
History of Costa Brava
Until the end of World War I, the beaches of the Catalan coast served as Sunday leisure spots for locals and one or two residents of nearby villages. At that time, world tourism discovered the Côte d’Azur, but the Costa Brava was unknown to him.
The gradual collapse of Spain’s international isolation in the 1950s, as some order was restored after several years of the Spanish Civil War, opened the way for new tourism opportunities. The sea and the sun attracted more and more people and combined with the Côte d’Azur, which was already crowded at the time, added to the Costa Brava’s allure for holidaymakers heading there.
The main rivers flowing into the Costa Brava are:
Muga pours water at Empuriabrava in Castello d’Empuries.
Fluvià pours its waters near Sant Pere Pescador.
Ter pours its waters near L’Estartit, Torroella de Montgrí.
Tordera pours its waters near Blanes, marking the southernmost section of the Costa Brava
Culture of Costa Brava
during parts of the Costa Brava coastline have succumbed to massive tourism development, others have retained a more traditional look. Located near the French border and at the foot of the Pyrenees, small towns like Cadaqués have attracted artists such as Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso.
The Dali Theater and Museum in Figueres is one of the most major and visited museums in Catalonia. You can also visit Cadaqués in Pubol and the Dalí House Museum in Port Lligate near Pubol Castle. The coast between Roses and Tossa de Mar has many charming little coastal towns such as Pals, Begur, Tamariu, Sagaro, Empuriabrava, Llafranc, L’Estartit, Aigua Blava, Fornells, Calella de Palafrugell, Calonge, Palamos and Sant Feliu. . from Guixols.
Climate of Costa Brava
The Costa Brava has a typical Mediterranean climate with moderately warm weather characterized by hot dry summers and moderately cold winters. The average annual temperature ranges from 7 to 28°C, with the highest temperatures occurring in July and August.
Collections and Museums in Costa Brava
The large collection of art is almost 50 museums and collections listed in the five districts that make up the Costa Brava’s name. From north to south:
Alt Emporda
La Honquera’s Museum Collection in Exile
Baix Emporda
Farm Museum gallery in Torroella de Fluvià
Girones
Gallery Museum Raset in Cervià de Ter
Language of people in Costa Brava
Catalonia has three formal languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan and Aranian, although the latter is generally spoken only in Val d’Aran. Most people in the Costa Brava region usually speak Catalan and are also fluent in Castilian Spanish.
Public holidays date in Costa Brava
- The following general holidays are observed throughout Costa Brava.
- 26 December (Saint Stephen’s Day)
- 25 December (Christmas Day)
- 8 December (Day of the Blessed Virgin)
- 6 December (Day of the Spanish Constitution)
- 1 November (All Saint’s Day)
- 11 September (Catalan National Festival)
- 15 August (The Holy Assumption)
- 24 June (Saint John’s Day)
- 1 May (Labour Day)
- 1 January (New Year’s Day)
Festivals and Events of Costa Brava
Pablo Casals, Manuel de Falla and Isaac Albéniz are a number of the greats who left their mark on the Costa Brava. However, one of the earliest organizers of the music festival was Josep Ensesa, who opened the doors and gardens of his Segna Blanca home in Saguaro to music lovers in 1956 with a series of concerts called the International Music Festival. The festival’s success has prompted other cities in Costa Brava to hold similar events, and now almost every city in Costa Brava hosts an annual music event.
Cinema in Costa Brava
Throughout its history, and especially over the last 100 years, Costa Brava has been the birthplace and residence of artists of various trends. Many politicians, intellectuals and public figures have passed through or stayed in the Costa Brava, contributing to the transformation and increasing the reputation of the Costa Brava at home and abroad.
The Natural Parks in Costa Brava
Costa Brava terrain has three parks
- Montseny Natural Park
- Natural Park of Cap de Creus
- Aiguamolls de l’Empordà
Coves and Beaches in Costa Brava
There are 199 such places in the coastal area of Costa Brava, including beaches surrounded by vegetation and hidden coves.
Beaches and coves of Alt Empordà
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- In Llançà:
the Beaches Rastell, d’en Cros, Bramant, El Cau del Llop, El Port, La Farella, Grifeu, La Gota, Canyelles, Les Carboneres and Les Tonyines. Cove Tavallera. - In L’Escala:
the Beaches Riells, Riuet, Sant Martí d’Empúries, L’Escala, Moll Grec, Les Muscleres, Rec del Molí, Port d’en Perris, and Portitxol. Coves of Mateua Island, Montgó and La Creu. - In Colera:
the Beach of Garbet, of Colera and the Borró / Assutzenes, and the coves Rovellada and Cala Morts/d’en Goixa. - In Portbou:
Port Bou Beach and El Pi, and the coves of Les Freses, El Clapé and Les Tres Platgetes. - In Empuriabrava-Castelló d’Empúries:
the Beaches la Rubina, Empuriabrava and Can Comes. - In Roses:
The Beaches Salatar, Santa Margarida, La Nova, La Punta, Almadrava, Canyelles, El Rastrell and Palangrers. Coves Jòncols, Montjoi, Murtra, Pelosa, Bonifaci, Calís, Calitjàs, Canadell and Rustella.
- In Llançà:
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Beaches and coves of Baix Empordà
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- In L’Estartit-Torroella de Montgrí
- In Pals:
The Large Beach of Pals and Grau Beach. - In Mont-ras:
the Coves Vedell, del Crit and Font Morisca. - In Calella de Palafrugell-Palafrugell:
the beaches of Sant Roc/dels Canyers, Canadell, Calau, Platgeta, Port de la Mala Espina and Port Pelegrí. The coves the Russian Bath/Massoni, Golfet and Port Bo. - In Santa Cristina d’Aro:
Coves Vallpresona, Caleta de Cuncagats, La Font, de El Senyor Ramon and Joana - In S’Agaró-Castell Platja d’Aro:
the Beach of S’Agaró and the Coves s Sa Conca and Pedrosa.
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Coves and Beaches of Selva
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- In Lloret de Mar:
The Beaches Sa Boadella, Treumal, Fenals, Cala Canyelles, Santa Cristina and the Beach of Lloret de Mar. - In Tossa de Mar:
The Beaches of Santa Maria de Llorell, El Reig, the large Beach of Tossa de Mar and Mar Menuda. Coves Porto Pi, Figuera, Carles, D’es Codolar, Bona, Salions, Futadera, Giverola, Llevadó, Morisca and Pola. - In Blanes:
The Beaches S’Abanell, Blanes, Punta de Santa Anna and Treumal. Bay Saint Francis.
- In Lloret de Mar:
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Costa Brava in terms of location
The northernmost section of the Costa Brava is owned by the Alt Empordà region and is marked by the Alberta Massif and Cap de Creus, the easternmost extension of the Pyrenees.
This area near the border is marked by rugged terrain and cliffs with small coves along the coast in contrast to the wide plains of the Alt Empordà region, where the capital, Figueres, is located. The first town on the border with France is Portbou, which grew up around the train station. A little further along the coast are the sailing villages of Kohler and Llans. To the north of Cap de Creus is the city of El Port de la Selva, and to the south are the cities of Cadaqués and Roses.
South of Cap de Creus lies the 15 km long Bay of Roses with beaches and wetlands formed by the Muga and Fluvia rivers, along the coast with the protected area of Aiguamolls de l’Empordà. Part of the municipality of Castello d’Empuries, Empuriabrava is one of the biggest marinas in the world, built in the 1960s in the swamps of the river Muga. Further south is the towns of Sant Pere Pescador and the coastal town of L’Escala. Between these two villages is the village of Sant Marti d’Empúries, located near the remains of the ancient Greek colony of Empuries, founded in 575 BC.
Summers of Costa Brava
This area is very popular in summer, many residents of Barcelona and residents of southern France and other European countries have a rest here. Plan your trip well in advance as hotels are booked months in advance. This is yes, some major cities can be very crowded, but the area is so large and the coastline is so long, you can always find quiet towns and small deserted beaches even in August. . .
Hotels and Places to Stay near the Costa Brava
- L’Azure Hotel
- Parador De Aiguablava
- Park Hotel San Jorge
- Hotel Boutique Villa Gala
- Hotel Cala del Pi
- Hotel El Convent
- Golden Bahia De Tossa & Spa
- Hotel Cap Roig by Brava Hoteles
- Evenia Olympic Garden
