The four Michelin keys of the Costa Brava and Girona

It has been more than twenty years since the Michelin Guide began making its hotel recommendations, included in guides for Europe and Asia. But it was only four years ago that those responsible for the guide decided to renew it to show the crème de la crème of accommodation around the world. In the same way that the Michelin star recognises restaurants for their excellence in cuisine, the Michelin key recognises hotels that offer exceptional stays, awarding one, two or three keys based on five criteria: architecture and interior design, the quality and consistency of the service, its personality and general character, its value for money and the contribution it makes to the surroundings. Of the 20 key hotels in Catalonia, four are in our area.

The Hotel Mas de Torrent is the establishment in Girona that has received the greatest distinction from the Michelin Guide, with two keys. Located in the small town of Torrent, in the Baix Empordà, it is an 18^th century farmhouse converted into an elegant luxury hotel, with suites that have their own garden and private pool. An oasis of relaxation and well-being that has an exclusive spa, with a heated pool, treatment and massage rooms, dry sauna and Turkish bath, water circuit, fully equipped fitness centre and rooms for activities such as yoga, meditation or Pilates. In addition, the restaurant, run by the prestigious chef Ramón Freixa, offers local cuisine using the best products from the Costa Brava, and combining creativity, tradition, modernity and imagination.

On the road to Roses (Alt Empordà) stands one of the most splendid and romantic hotels on the Costa Brava, the Hotel Mas Lazuli. A boutique hotel with only seventeen rooms located in a former convent dating back to the 11^th century. The old stone buildings are nestled among palm trees, vineyards and olive trees, which are reflected in its infinity pool at dusk. With a contemporary and sophisticated design in earth tones, with wooden floors and original art and ceilings from the convent, the rooms have private balconies or terraces where you can enjoy a glass from the DO Empordà Wine Route before dinner, with cuisine based on products grown on the farm. It is a hotel under the same ownership as the boutique hotel Villa Salvador in Cadaqués, ideal for relaxing after a visit to the Salvador Dalí house-museum, close to the accommodation.

Can Mascort is a house with more than 300 years of history, of historical heritage, located in the centre of Palafrugell, and restored with great care, as its owners point out, to create a space where you can enjoy natural well-being and health. It is an eco hotel, restored following the principles of bioconstruction, to recover its essence. It’s an ideal space for those who love healthy living and the environment. It has fifteen spacious rooms, including family rooms, distributed over two floors. The hotel also has an eco shop, with natural and local products, a caldarium (ancient Roman bath) and bicycle parking. The ideal place for discovering the Costa Brava by bike.

In a small town in the heart of Empordà, in Peralada, we can find one of the most luxurious hotels in the region, the Hotel Peralada Wine Spa & Golf. It is the perfect resort to enjoy a quiet and leisurely break, surrounded by a natural environment of great beauty between the Pyrenees and the Costa Brava.

Since 1923, when the Suqué Mateu family acquired Peralada Castle, the hotel has combined history, culture, wine-gastronomy and leisure, hosting unique experiences such as the well-known Perelada Festival. The resort includes gardens designed by landscape designer François Duvillers and houses priceless collections in its museums. It also stands out for its wine tourism, with an innovative winery, the Perelada Winery, designed by the 2017 Pritzker award-winning architects, the RCR studio, and recognised for its sustainability and connection to the DO Empordà Wine Route. The resort also includes a five-star hotel, a wine therapy spa and a gastronomic selection which is also deserving of stars, such as the Castell Peralada, with a Michelin star, found within the walls of an authentic 14^th century castle, or the local contemporary cuisine restaurant L’Olivera and the Shiro by Paco Pérez, one of the most starred chefs on the current gastronomic scene. All this promises a stay that perfectly combines relaxation, gastronomy and culture in an unparalleled environment.