Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees heritage: a bird’s eye view

Let’s start our route in Palafrugell, where you will find the Can Mario modernist warehouse. Built in the early 20th century, this industrial building offers a spectacular panorama of the town and its surroundings from its tower. It is a place brimming with history that unites modernist architecture with the region’s cork-producing heritage, offering stunning views of the Costa Brava coastline and Mediterranean landscape.

We continue our tour with a stop at Trinity Castle, a 16th-century military stronghold overlooking the bay of Roses. From this strategic vantage point, you will be able to contemplate the views over the Mediterranean and the bay – one of the most beautiful in the world. The castle, restored and open to the public, is one of the greatest testaments to the Costa Brava’s defence heritage, and allows you to become immersed in the region’s military history. Its west-facing orientation offers views of some of the best sunsets in the country.

The next destination is Cervià de Ter Castle, a medieval fortress that presides over its eponymous village with views over the river Ter and Empordà landscape. This small, stone-built town has witnessed centuries of history and offers stunning panoramic views over the Empordà plain. A visit to the castle will give you a flavour of its strategic role during the Middle Ages, and you will be able to contemplate the stone foundations of the original walls and keep, several of its ancient wall locks and the remains of some of its rooms.

Now we head to La Garrotxa, where Finestres Castle is located. Surrounded by volcanic terrain, this castle ruin was first documented in 947, and remained intact until the earthquakes of 1427 and 1428. The castle overlooks the Santa Pau valley and the Finestres mountain range. From here you can also contemplate the Empordà plain, the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, enjoying privileged views thanks to the contrast between the intense green of the volcanic landscape and the medieval ruins.

Now heading north, you will reach Puigcerdà, the heart of La Cerdanya region, where the belfry of the ancient church of Santa Maria provides one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the whole Pyrenees. From here, you can enjoy exceptional views over the Cerdanya valley, set against a mountainous Pyrenean backdrop. The bell tower is also a symbol of how a historic legacy can stand the test of time, in being the last remaining vestige of the original church.

Extending right from the coast through to the Pyrenees, this “bird’s-eye view” route of Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees heritage sites is a different way of discovering the region’s diverse landscape and history, all while enjoying spectacular views and a remarkable immersion into the culture.