Hidden gems in Costa Brava

Hidden Gems to Discover

Explore the diverse heritage of Costa Brava and its hinterland through these secluded sites. This selection includes the 18th-century Sant Ferran Castle in Figueres, the largest fortress in Europe, and the submerged 11th-century Romanesque church of Sant Romà de Sau. Art enthusiasts can visit Salvador Dalí’s labyrinthine home in Portlligat or the Castle of Púbol, while the Memorial Walter Benjamin in Portbou offers a stark architectural tribute to the philosopher. Natural features include the 30-meter Salt de la Caula waterfall and the tranquil Jardins dels Alemanys in Girona’s Old Town.

Hidden Gems to Discover — Map

Enfo / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Jardins dels Alemanys

Landscaped gardens in Girona’s Old Town featuring the ruins of 19th-century barracks and remains of the city's Roman and medieval walls.

CGE / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

House-Museum Salvador Dalí

Visit the house where Dalí lived and worked between 1930 and 1982. The house is structured as a labyrinth and preserved just like it was…

Joan A. Parés / CC-BY-SA-3.0

C

Salt de la Caula

A 30-meter-high waterfall cascading over travertine cliffs in Les Escaules. The site includes caves with archaeological evidence of prehistoric human occupation.

MolinencVolador / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Sant Ferran Castle

The Sant Ferran Castle is situated on a hill in Figueres, Catalonia at the end of Pujada del Castell.

Marcin Wichary / CC BY 2.0

E

Technical Museum of the Empordà

The Technical Museum of the Empordà is a technology museum in Figueres, Spain.It opened on 27 June 2004, and is especially known for its…

Enric / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Castle of Púbol

The Castle of Púbol or Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum, located in Púbol in the comarca of Baix Empordà, Girona, Catalonia, Spain, is a…

Josep Bracons / CC BY-SA 2.0

G

Sant Romà de Sau

An 11th-century Romanesque church located within the Sau reservoir. Submerged in the 1960s, its bell tower remains visible above the water line depending on reservoir levels.

Nostrix / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Memorial Walter Benjamin

Titled 'Passages,' this 1994 installation by Dani Karavan in Portbou honors the German philosopher. It features a corten steel corridor cut into the cliffs, descending toward the Mediterranean.

Other Lists

Costa Brava's Essential Masterpieces Editor's Choice: Catalonia Sacred Sites of Catalonia Castles and Forts Historic Heritage Sites Scenic Viewpoints and Peaks Beaches and Caves Museums and Art Treasures Architectural Wonders