
Torroella de Montgrí is a city in Costa Brava, Catalonia, Spain. The municipality includes L'Estartit which is on the sea coast, while Torroella is inland.
Understand
[edit]The town was originally the Royal Port for the Kings of Aragon before a new port was founded at Palamós. It still bears a regal centrality in the region and sits at the crossroads to many smaller towns around. While the town is pleasant and typical of the region, it is the Montgrí Castle, an unfinished 13th century fortress that looms above the town on the hill and provides the main tourist attraction.
Tourist office
[edit]- 1 Torroella de Montgrí Tourist office (Oficina de Turisme de Torroella de Montgrí), C/Ullà, ☏ +34 972 75 92 50.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- The closest airport is in Girona (GRO IATA) is 55 km (34 mi) away and almost exclusively served by Ryanair and marketed somewhat misleadingly as "Barcelona"-Girona or more accurately as Girona Costa Brava. During the summer season a lot of campsites in the area run shuttle buses.
- You can also fly into Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN IATA) though that is 155 km (96 mi) away and the journey will involve multiple connections if you aren't hiring a car.
By bus
[edit]Buses to/from Girona and other towns in the region are run by AMPSA and a single trip costs around €6 with slightly higher rates on weekends and holidays.
- 1 Torroella de Montgrí bus station (Estació d'Autobusos de Torroella de Montgrí), Carretera de l'Estartit, 46.
By train
[edit]Torroella itself does not have a train station, but Girona is served by the AVE high speed train and other towns in the area see some regional train service.
By car
[edit]- From Barcelona: Take AP-7 at exit 9 take C-35 to Palamos which joins C-65 which joins C-31 . Follow it until Torroella de Montgrí
- From France: follow A-9 until the border whre it continues as AP-7 , follow it until Figueres. Take exit 3, and follow N-2 until the C-31 junction. Follow it until Torroella de Montgrí
- From Girona or Girona airport: follow N-2 north towards france until C-66 junction, follow direction La Bisbal d'Empordà until GI-642 which ends in Torroella de Montgrí
Get around
[edit]You should be able to easily walk everywhere. Biking is also a good way to get around and many campsites rent bikes.
Parking
[edit]- 2 Autocaravaning La Granja, carrer de la Santa Espina.
- 3 Parking Carrer del Riu Ter, Carrer del Riu Ter. free.
- 4 Parking Carrer del Safareig, Carrer del Safareig. free.
- 5 Parking carrer Hortes, carrer Hortes, toll-free: freePhone with wrong format.
- 6 Parking Ctra. l'Estartit, Ctra. l'Estartit (access by C/del Garbí), toll-free: freePhone with wrong format.
See
[edit]- 1 Montgrí Castle. Make the hike up to Montgrí Castle. The hike up will take around 1–2 hours. The most common route on the town side of the mountain is the faster in terms sheer distance. The less common route on the back site of the mountain is an easier walk. It is definitely a workout with a rise from 0 to 300m above sea level in short time and strong athletic shoes or hiking boots are recommended. It's also recommended to take care on the town side trail as while the path is marked, it is easy to get lost at points and the mountain is very sheer and dangerous in spots. Also bring plenty of water as there are no facilities along the way.
- 2 Museu de la Mediterrania, c. Ullà, 27-31 - 17257 Torroella de Montgrí, [email protected]. regular: €3 reduced: €1.50.
- 3 Museu Palau Solterra, Carrer de l'Església. An art museum
- 4 Main Square (Plaça de la Vila). The square is porticoed in an irregular shape and of proportionate dimensions. Some of the arcades of the portico are from the Gothic period. The facade of the town house, from the 16th century, stands out, with a voussoir portal and windows decorated with emblems of the town's coat of arms. In the southeast corner is the chapel of Sant Antoni, of ancient origin, but completely renovated in the 18th century, with a rectangular plan, where the town's public clock is located (it seems that in the 14th century there was already a bell of the hours and initially civil and religious acts were celebrated there); it is now a municipal exhibition hall.
- 5 Sant Genís curch (Església de Sant Genís), Plaça de l'Abat Oliba. The first mentions of a temple come from 1209. Begun in a late Gothic style, it was built on an earlier temple, possibly Romanesque. This first temple suffered a fire in 1285, which probably motivated the beginning of the construction of the current temple in 1306. Although unfinished, it was consecrated on May 3, 1609, about three centuries after the beginning of the works. The baptismal font can be dated between 1341 and 1367. In 1576 the Gothic baptismal font was replaced by a Renaissance one and the old one was used as a reservoir for oil for the services of the temple lamps.
- 6 Font pública del passeig de l'Església, passeig de l'Església. The fountain on the church promenade is one of two public fountains (the other is located on the Vicenç Bou promenade) that have been preserved since the second half of the 19th century, when the Marquis of Robert, when he lived in the palace of the former counts of Soltera and proceeded to collect water for his own use, ordered the construction of public fountains throughout the town.
- 7 Santa Caterina gate (Portal de Santa Caterina).
- 8 Witch tower and city walls (Torre de les Bruixes i muralla). Two towers remain, the portal of Sant Caterina and the Torre de les Bruixes (14th-15th centuries). Of the old walled enclosure of Torroella de Montgrí, which had six gates and several towers, only remains remain in the north and northwest, although its perimeter can be followed by the layout of the streets. The most interesting elements that remain standing today are the portal of Santa Caterina, located to the north, in the lower part of the tower of the same name, and the Torre de les Bruixes, which protected one of the portals, to the northwest of the old core. Between the portal and the tower there are remains of the north wall of the wall, about twenty meters long and about four meters high, which preserves some loopholes.
Do
[edit]- For Beach and water sports use L'Estartit page.
Music festival
[edit]Torroella de Montgrí Music Festival: The festival started in 1980 and has always maintained Western classical music as the central axis of its programming. Over time, it has introduced extra musical elements and showcased other types of music and cultures. Late July to mid-August.
Hiking
[edit]There are many paths in the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park .
The GR 92 long-distance walking route cross the city.
Cycling
[edit]The Pirinexus and the EuroVelo EV8 long distance bike routes cross the city.
Events
[edit]- Carnival (Carnestoltes). The date depends on the year as it is related to Easter.
- Sant Jordi (April 23) books & roses festival
- Sant Joan's Eve in Torroella, welcomed by the flame of Canigó.(june 23rd)
- Sant Genís Festival (August 25 – 28)
- Sardana Gathering (3rd Sunday in September)
- Santa Caterina Gathering (Sunday before November 25)
- Sant Andreu Fair (November 30)
- Home dels Nassos Festival (December 31)
Pitch and put
[edit]- Pitch & Putt Gualta, Ctra. Torroella, Km 0,5, Gualta, ☏ +34972760338, [email protected]. The course has 18 holes between 70 and 120 meters, with two tees per hole so that each player can choose the challenge they prefer. The course is complemented by three training areas: Range Gualta with 20 positions (13 covered), lighting and free TrackMan technology, Approach and bunker area, Putting green with 18 holes
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]There is a special bread made in the town which looks like a series of muffins stuck together. It's an excellent bread and well worth buying all or part of any found on offer.
- 1 Restaurant Triton, Carretera de Torroella de Montgrí a Palafrugell s/n, (On the C‑31 road between Torroella de Montgrí and Palafrugell.), ☏ +34 972 75 70 38, [email protected]. Lunch and dinner; check website for current schedule.. Seafood and Mediterranean restaurant just outside town, noted for grilled fish, rice dishes and hearty Catalan cooking in a roadside country-house setting. from €35.
- 2 Palau Lo Mirador, Passeig de l'Església 1 (In the historic centre, a short walk north of the main square.), ☏ +34 972 75 80 39. Elegant restaurant inside a restored palace-hotel, offering creative Mediterranean cuisine and local Empordà wines in refined dining rooms and a garden terrace.
- 3 Restaurant La Gola, Platja de la Gola del Ter, entre Torroella de Montgrí i Pals (Near the mouth of the Ter river, about 7 km from Torroella towards the coast.), ☏ +34 972 75 71 55. Relaxed seaside restaurant attached to a small hostal, specialising in rice dishes, grilled fish and shellfish in a quiet natural setting close to the beach.
- 4 Fonda Mitjà, Carrer de l'Església, 14, ☏ +34 972758003, [email protected]. M-Sa 13:00-15:30. Located in the old town of Torroella de Montgrí, in La Fonda Mitjà they offer traditional Catalan cuisine. The daily menu will bring you closer to the essence of Empordà cuisine . Salads, cakes, grilled meats, stews.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Midrange
[edit]- Hotel Clipper, Carrer del Rosinyol 1, ☏ + 34 972 758 454. Same location as Camping Delfin verde
- 1 Hotel GR92, Carrer de Fàtima 2, ☏ +34 972 010 116.
Splurge
[edit]- 2 hotel palau lo mirador, Passeig de l'Església, 1, ☏ +34 972 758 063, [email protected].
Camping
[edit]- 3 Càmping Punta Milà, Carrer de la Punta Milà, ☏ +34 638 652 712. Services: Dogs allowed, Bar, Internet connection, Infirmary, Plenty of shade, Playground, Swimming pool, Children's pool, Tennis / paddle court, Restaurant, Laundry service, Supermarket
- 4 Càmping Delfin Verde, Carrer del Rosinyol 1, ☏ +34 972 75 84 54, [email protected]. on the beachfront
Connect
[edit]As of Jan 2024, Torroella de Montgrí has 5G from all Spanish carriers, with 4G / 5G on its approach highways.
Go next
[edit]- L'Estartit is in the same municipality but at the sea shore.
- Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park. Most of the park is in the municipality of Torroella
- L'Escala. At the north side of the Mongrí mountains.
| Routes through Torroella de Montgrí |
| Peralada ← L'Escala ← | N |
→ Palamós |
| L'Escala ← Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park ← | N |
→ Pals → Begur |
