What can I do in Gironès and its holiday cottages?
Halfway between the sea and the mountains we find Gironès, a region that enjoys an ideal location, close to the Pyrenees and the Costa Brava, watered by the river Ter and its tributaries. A region that allows us to enjoy both its natural resources and its artistic and architectural heritage. Kayak the Ter, visit the Puig d'Adri and the gorges of Canet d'Adri , discover the late Roman fortress of Sant Julià de Ramis or get lost in the Llémena Valley, which Josep Pla defined as "a small valley, collected and winding The delicious miniature of a valley in our country". And obviously, discovering Girona, its capital, a city with two thousand years of history that is worth seeing. You never run out of Gironès.
But first, a little history. Girona was inhabited by the Iberians and, as we know, was part of the Roman Empire, from which period the well-known toponym of Gerunda comes. Once the Empire falls, it becomes dependent on the Visigothic power that reigned in France and at the beginning of the 8th century it was conquered by the Muslims, like so many other areas of the Iberian Peninsula. An unimportant event for the city since four years later it was handed over to Carlemany and it was then that the county of Girona was formed. Two moments you need to know: The Middle Ages, a period of great splendor for Girona and of which numerous architectural vestiges remain and the siege suffered during the War of Independence by the Grande Armée . The defense of the city, with around 9,000 troops and militiamen against 32,000 imperial forces, was led by General Álvarez de Castro, who ended up becoming a national hero. Girona held out for seven months, until illness and hunger forced it to capitulate.
5 ideas to enjoy the Gironès
Get to know Girona
Girona is a city with one of the most interesting medieval centers in Catalonia. The Old Quarter is home to monuments that deserve (at least!) a visit such as the Cathedral, the Basilica of Sant Feliu, the Arab Baths, the walls or the Call Jueu, a mixture of very varied architectural styles, from Romanesque to neoclassical through gothic. If you walk around Girona, you can't miss the Cul de la Lleona , the Pont de les Peixateres Velles or Pont Eiffel or the legendary Onyar houses, one of the most emblematic photographs of the city.
Nature and landscapes
If you want to enjoy the varied landscape, of hills, mountains and cultivated plains, of the Gironès you cannot miss, for example, the Puig de la Banya del Boc and the Puig d'Adri , located practically in the heart of the Llémena Valley, the Volcà de la Crosa , which has the widest crater on the Iberian Peninsula, the sanctuary of Rocacorba in Canet d'Adri or the Puig de Cadiretes in Llagostera. You can also choose to walk through Les Gavarres or discover the Vall de Sant Daniel . A handful of peaceful spaces away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Get to know its architectural heritage
If you enjoy visiting churches, monasteries and shrines, you're in luck. In Gironès you will find a few specimens that are worth seeing. Let's start with the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants , current headquarters of the Museum of Archeology of Catalonia in Girona and the monastery of Sant Daniel where a community of Benedictine nuns survives. You can't miss the Gothic church of Sant Esteve de Bordils or the Neoclassical church of Sant Joan de Mollet. Towards the west, we find the famous sanctuary of Rocacorba in Canet d'Adri. Another of the most important sanctuaries in the Gironès is, without a doubt, the Santuari dels Àngels , in Sant Martí Vell, where Gala and Salvador Dalí were married. If you want to know mountain hermitages, you can visit those in the Llémena Valley, such as the chapel of Sant Medir, between Llorà and Pla de Sant Joan, that of Sant Grau in Sant Gregori or that of Sant Cristòfol del Bosc in Llambilles, where They hold gatherings there every year.
Hiking and cycling along the Gironès
If you feel like a good walk or take the bike, the Vies Verdes de Girona are a good option. There are currently 160 km of greenways in the Girona counties. In the region of Gironès specifically we find part of the Ruta del Carrilet, which goes from Olot to Sant Feliu de Guíxols, the Ruta del Tren Pinxo that goes from Girona to Serinyà and the Via Onyar - Verneda, which connects the municipalities from the south of the region. Another option is the Camí de Sant Jaume , which on its way through the Gironès crosses the villages of Viladasens, Cervià de Ter, Sant Julià de Ramis, Sarrià de Ter, Girona, Salt and Bescanó. More options: The Camí Ral de la Vall del Llémena , which follows the old path that connected Girona with Sant Martí de Llémena. Currently, however, it is a dirt road that goes from Sant Gregori to Sant Aniol de Finestres. A good route to discover the natural beauty of this valley. And, finally, you can also do the Ruta del Ter, a hiking and cycling route that links the Pyrenees with the Costa Brava. On its way through the Gironès, it passes through the towns of Bescanó, Salt, Girona, Sarrià de Ter, Sant Gregori, Sant Julià de Ramis, Cervià de Ter, Celrà, Bordils, Sant Joan de Mollet, Flaçà and Sant Jordi Desvalls.
Get to know the museums of Girona
Another way to get to know Gironès is through its museums. If you like Romanesque and Gothic art, you can visit the Girona Art Museum , located in the old Episcopal Palace of Girona. It has, by the way, the third most important art collection of these two periods in Catalonia. If you like archeology, visit the monastery of Sant Pere Galligants , home of the Museum of Archeology of Catalonia in Girona, if what you want, on the other hand, is to discover the history of the city, visit the Museum of History de Girona , located in the old convent of Sant Antoni from the 18th century. Inside, you can take a tour of the city's history: from its foundation in Roman times to the Franco regime. And finally, if you want a different visit, you can't miss the Cinema Museum , where you can take a tour through the history of the seventh art.
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