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This route will take you along some of the most spectacular scenic roads on the Costa Brava.
From Colera to Roses, 80 kilometres of beautiful Mediterranean coastline and green vineyards overlooking the sea. Small coves with crystalline water, Cap de Creus Natural Park, the tramontana north wind and the Mar d’Amunt area between Cadaqués and Cerbère… This is the landscape which inspired the great genius Salvador Dalí. Want to come and see it?
The city of Figueres, at the foot of the Pyrenees, is intrinsically linked to its most emblematic figure: Salvador Dalí. The Dalí Theatre-Museum is the artist’s last great work; a completely experimental museum displaying the genius’s work and thought. But apart from Dalí, Figueres will also tempt you with its authentic Alt Empordà food and wine, with DO Empordà wines and local produce and specialities such as Figueres onions and Vilabertran stuffed apples.
With over 50 years’ history, the Garriguella Cooperative offers hearty breakfasts and lunches made with quality local produce of high cultural value, as well as various wine tourism activities including tours of the old airfield and the bunkers dating back to the Spanish Civil War in Garriguella. Just five minutes away on foot, you can sample some of the best honeys in the area at Abellaires Empordanesos.
Follow the main road out of Garriguella, through vineyard country, until you come to the Empordàlia cooperative in the village of Pau. It offers guided tours of its winery and its shop, which is stocked with a large selection of DO Empordà wines and Pau oils produced in its oil mill, as well as other fresh local produce from the Empordà region.
At its restaurant area, called L’Empordà a Taula, in their farm shop in Vilajuïga, you can have a hearty country breakfast or an aperitif.
While in Garriguella, you can also visit Masetplana and taste its excellent oils and wines.
Espelt Viticultors is another family-run winery with spectacular vineyards and wines. Are you adventurous? Jump into the winery’s 4×4 and drive off to explore its terroirs. Are you a gourmet? Then enjoy a breakfast overlooking the vineyards and discover the secrets of their winemaking and the tramontana country that shapes these wines so markedly.
In the fishing village of Llançà, SK Kayak has an authentic wine tourism experience in store for you, one that’s deeply rooted in the region of Cap de Creus and the Albera massif: enokayaking. You’ll paddle from cove to cove and taste the wines of the green vineyards overlooking the sea, from the Hugas de Batlle winery.
These are the first vineyards on the Iberian Peninsula to see the sun rise every morning. Hugas de Batlle will show you around its spectacular terraced estates with views of the Mediterranean in its trusty 4×4: adventure guaranteed! While you’re here, why not visit Colera and stop by its beaches for a swim in the crystal-clear water?
Interested in discovering the curiosities of monastic life and its connection with the world of wine? Did you know that the first book on oenology in Catalonia was written at the Sant Pere de Rodes monastery back in 1130? You can learn about all this and more on the From the Vineyard to the Monastery tour, finishing up with a wine tasting on its spectacular terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.
To the north of Cap de Creus nestles the little fishing village of El Port de la Selva, hidden away amidst the great scenic beauty created by the combination of the blue of the Mediterranean and the green of the surrounding vineyards. Go for a stroll around the fishing port and down the narrow streets, with their emblematic whitewashed houses huddling together against the tramuntana, or north wind.
Heading towards Cadaqués, on a road boasting one of the most breathtaking views in Empordà, you’ll find the Martín Faixó winery and an innovative wine tourism experience. Tour the winery and taste its wines, relax and unwind by practising mindfulness in the vineyards, and enjoy a quiet night in one of its suites in the heart of Cap de Creus. This winery is also a member of Ceps de Cap de Creus.
The route continues to the Tudela site, whose extraordinary geology was once a source of inspiration for the genius Salvador Dalí. Drive on to the Cap de Creus Lighthouse for a local aperitif or a glass of DO Empordà wine, or simply enjoy the stunning views. This part of Empordà has little reason to envy other great natural spots around the world.
Follow the road to the village of Cadaqués, a haven for artists from all over the world. Its narrow streets of whitewashed houses have managed to conserve the most authentic spirit of the Costa Brava. While you’re here, make sure to visit the Salvador Dalí House Museum in Portlligat. This became Dalí’s only stable home and was where he painted many of his masterpieces.
The fishing town of Roses, besides being one of the best spots to watch the sunset on the Costa Brava, was where Ferran Adrià revolutionised the world of international cuisine with his restaurant, elBulli, now converted into the elBulli 1846 exhibition space. The secondary road leading to the restaurant is amazing. In the heart of Cap de Creus Natural Park you’ll discover a series of unspoilt coves that are pure Costa Brava. On top of that, you’ll find the singular Mas Marès estate, another member of Ceps de Cap de Creus, with its spectacular organic vineyard overlooking the Badia de Roses.
Where to eat: Els Pescadors, LBAR, Dràulic, Es Baluard, Compartir, Can Rafa, Casa Anita, S’Enoteca, Empórium (1 Michelin star)
Where to stay: Cala Jòncols, Terraza Hotel & Spa, Villa Gala, Mas Lazuli, Peralada Hotel
