Specific information for Senior Tourism +50 Edited by: Tourist Office Estartit Torroella de Montgrí Town Hall Images and photography: Narcís Arbusé Vicenç Rovira Josep Pasqual Toni León Town Hall Torroella de Montgrí Tourism Costa Brava - Girona Mediterranean Museum Vinagreta disseny i comunicació Collaborators: Josep Pasqual (meteorology) Xavier Quintana Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park Nautical Station L'Estartit - Medes Islands Mediterranean Museum Writing, design and layout: Vinagreta disseny i comunicació Introduction Torroella de Montgrí - L’Estartit, located in the heart kayak) and nature activities (hiking, bicycle touring, of the Costa Brava, Girona (Catalonia-Spain), offers horse riding, trail running, ATB, flora and fauna this special information dossier on active holidays observation), as well as guided visits and cultural that will enable you to discover the main attractions heritage routes. All the activities are designed for of the area. families or small groups, and present varying degrees of difficulty. The dossier contains information on a destination offering high-quality services and surroundings, good Seventy per cent of the municipal area is located within connections to the major European countries, safety of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park, the activities available, visitor assistance, and part of a corridor of landscapes of natural interest competitive prices. where visitors can enjoy many different activities and discovery routes. As set out in Chapter 1, the municipality comprises two main population centres: The same corridor also includes the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà and Cap de Creus Natural Parks to the north, Torroella de Montgrí, a town of medieval origin the Begur Mountains and the Gavarres Massif to the boasting a well-conserved historical centre, a wide south, the Garrotxa Volcanic Area Natural Park further range of cultural amenities and activities, and a inland, and many others. dynamic, high-quality shopping area specialising in local products. Routes leading out from Torroella de Montgrí - L’Estartit enable visitors to explore the emblematic landscapes of L’Estartit, a tourist centre located opposite the Medes this part of Catalonia: walkers will enjoy the GR92 trail, Islands Marine Reserve, an excellent starting point for the River Ter Route, the 17 local itineraries around the enjoying the sea and the seascapes. Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park, and Torroella de Montgrí - L’Estartit is the Costa Brava cyclists can avail of the Pirinexus and Baix Empordà municipality with the most companies offering water networks, among others. sports(sailing, snorkelling, boat trips, underwater diving, As regards cultural heritage, the Dalí Triangle (Dalí and similar) and visitor service in museums, tourist Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Salvador Dalí House- offices, etc. (SICTED). Accessibility and sustainable Museum in Portlligat, and Gala Dalí Castle in Púbol), the tourism programmes are channelled through the historic centre of Girona, and the medieval villages European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (EUROPARC), surrounding the Natural Park (Peratallada, Ullastret, Pals, which is currently being implemented. etc.) all make this area an interesting holiday destination. The excellent road and rail links with The location of Torroella de Montgrí - L’Estartit in the Barcelona and elsewhere enable visitors to discover and northeast of Catalonia guarantees excellent accessibility explore some of the most characteristic landscapes of via motorways, high-speed trains, and the nearby Catalonia. Also of interest are the artworks displayed in airports of Girona, Barcelona, and Perpignan. The public the many local museums and art galleries, and transport system runs bus services to Palamós, Girona, traditional crafts such as La Bisbal pottery. and Barcelona, while Girona railway station provides further accessibility for the destination. The rich natural and cultural heritage, together with a deep-rooted relationship with the land and the The tourism tradition of the area ensures the availability environment, means that local producers are concerned of essential services such as hospitals within a 30-km with achieving and maintaining high standards of radius, 24-hour medical assistance, “heart safe” facilities, quality. Wine and olive oil are protected by the DO as well as Internet access in tourist establishments and Empordà label while the Empordà seal of quality Tourist Offices, with the latter remaining open all year guarantees many other gastronomic products, all of round. which are available in the shops or restaurants. Detailed information on the destination is attached to this dossier, together with a sample of themed breaks A visit to producers and artisans enables you to discover and activity programmes offered by local companies. the excellence of our local products, which are highly praised in guidebooks and other publications. More information is available on our website Sustainable tourism and the improvement of tourist www.visitestartit.com and in the brochures services have been pursued for many years, as proved complementing this dossier. The Tourist Office will be by the awards received for beach quality (EMAS, ISO, happy to provide any further help you may require. Index tourist dossier 01 The land. Presentation page 4 Torroella de Montgrí. Town of history and personality page 6 L'Estartit. Seafaring village page 8 Montgrí, Medes islands and Baix Ter Natural Park page 10 Protected areas page 11 Interesting nature page 12 One Natural Park, three landscapes. The mountain, the sea and the river Ter page 13 The mountain. The Montgrí massif page 13 The sea. Medes Islands, bays and beaches page 16 The river. Ter Vell wetlands and Pletera page 23 02 Tourism. Destination of many possibilities page 24 Family tourism page 24 Active tourism and discovery of the Natural Park page 26 Cultural tourism page 28 Accessible tourism page 30 Food and trade page 31 03 The tourist offer. Adapting to changing times page 36 Accommodation page 37 Restaurants page 37 Businesses, services and activities page 37 04 Department of Tourism. Promoting resources and services page 38 Duties of the Tourism Department page 38 Tourist Information Offices page 39 Commitment to quality assurance page 40 L’Estació Nàutica l’Estartit-Illes Medes page 41 Mediterranean Museum & Natural Park Interpretation Centre page 41 Publications by the Department of Tourism page 41 Activities and events calendar page 42 05 Information. The municipality in a click page 44 Location and access page 44 Weather page 45 Maps of Torroella de Montgrí and L’Estartit page 46 Routes and intineraries of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park page 48 Addresses and general information page 49 Publications page 49 06 La Costa Brava. Privileged land page 50 A reference to tourism page 50 Recommended visits page 51 07 Bibliography page 56 Sample of themed breaks and activity programmes offered by local companies page 57 08 3 01 Presentation The land Factsheet LENGTH: 6.613 ha TOTAL LAND SURFACE OF THE NATURAL PARK: 4.476 ha ALTITUDE: 31 m. (Torroella's church) COORDINATES OF TERM: between 42º 0’ 14” and 42º 6’ 30” north and 6º 47’ 15” and 6º 54’ 3” east (church). POPULATION: 11.472 (2013) REGION: Baix Empordà. PROVINCE: Girona. Torroella and L'Estartit located in Baix Empordà, The landscape not only consists of the Montgrí castle are the essence of the region. Known for its out- but also a rugged coast, beautiful hidden coves, and standing beauty and contrast, the area divides the the Medes Islands, all of which leave an unforgettable Alt and Baix Empordà with the Montgrí massif. impression on the visitor. Those who have known this This mountain range is commonly known as "the sea with these islands could not imagine the dead Bishop" for its geographical features which landscape any other way. lead to the unfinished thirteenth century castle. The Medes Islands, solid and strong, surrounded by The Montgrí mountain, an island in the middle of intense, deep blue seas swept along by the northern a fertile plain, offers impressive panoramic views Tramuntana wind are symbols of the past and present. that lead out to the River Ter and beyond. Josep Once an ancient spiritual refuge for military and Pla often said, "my life on this earth, has consisted of pirates, it is now a protected nesting place for many nothing more than going around this castle.” For him, protected species of birds seeking shelter and plant "the mountain of Santa Caterina of Montgrí is like the species in the Natural Park of Montgrí, Medes Islands cog on the cartwheel that is Empordà." and Baix Ter. 4 "Torroella and L'Estartit are outstanding leaders in sustainable, cultural, family-friendly tourism." The town of Torroella at the foot of the limestone Estartit is the maritime extension of a municipality that Montgrí massif surrounded by a rich agricultural plain has everything to offer. Economic development has which for centuries was the main source of economy grown considerably over recent years whilst evokes history through its network of streets with the preserving the environmental value. Nowadays, this old town, full of palaces and mansions of the time. privileged land of the Natural Park is shared amongst Equally impressive is the seventeenth century church, traditional fishing, tourism and the marine harbour known by many as the cathedral of Empordà for its and port. As a result of the great variety of nautical, beauty and magnitude, and like many other churches sports and subaquatic activities on offer, L'Estartit is it is without roof on the bell tower. ranked as one of the best destinations for tourism on the Costa Brava. The town, which has changed and modernized over Torroella de Montgrí and L'Estartit are leaders in time, has not lost its original rural charm. The sustainable, cultural, family-friendly tourism. With commercial fabric of the village is alive and well and so many unlimited possibilities on offer, there is shops do a booming trade.