Mountain or sea ? Big cities or remote villages? Sporting activities or cultural moments with gastronomic moments? These are the questions that often come up when we talk about vacations and our preferences. And if for a next stay, we took the direction of a territory which allows to alternate between all these experiences? This place exists and it is located in the northeast of Spain, it is the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees of Girona. Why be content to choose when you can have it all? You might as well experience everything twice! This territory, which covers 6,000 km², invites you to alternate between hiking in the mountains and swimming in crystal-clear waters, to visit the heritage of the big cities and that of the villages of character, in the middle of the peaks or on the Mediterranean coast. Not to mention the discovery of local history, traditions, gastronomy and culture. Here are the good reasons to come to the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees of Girona for your next vacation

The Costa Brava and the Pyrenees of Girona: a varied territory

Living in two places means joining a territory capable of offering a variety of landscapes. Why not go from the sea to the mountains in a single day? In the Pyrenees of Girona, we start by walking along the paths of the Camprodon valley, in the Rippolès region. In the summer, the mountains reveal lush green landscapes in which to hike or bike, before being covered in snow in the winter and delighting fans of snow sports at the Vallter 2,000 ski resort. Hiking is also the favorite activity of those who travel through the Núria Valley, so beautiful with its peaks that border on 3,000 m altitude, its waterfalls and the company of marmots and chamois. Whether you reach the valley by cogwheel train from Ribes de Freser or on foot through subalpine forests and rocky terrain, the feeling is always the same: you are overwhelmed by the natural environment of the high Pyrenean mountains.

Do you want to combine a walk in the mountains with a session at the beach? From the Pyrenees of Girona, you can reach the most beautiful parts of the Costa Brava in no time. For those who love sea views, head for the Sant Sebastià lighthouse in Palafrugell. Just after, the landscapes of the coves of Begur and Palafrugell offer themselves to the walkers. Steep cliffs, Mediterranean vegetation, translucent waters, the postcard is perfect for setting up your towel and cooling off in the turquoise sea. The adventurous will also want to go to the magnificent Natural Park of Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter. Here you can discover the ecological diversity of the Montgrí massif, before exploring the seabed surrounding the seven islets of the Medes Islands archipelago.

The varied landscapes of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees are full of historic towns that are a must-see. Santa Pau is a small Catalan village full of history in the middle of the volcanoes of the Garrotxa region. The old quarter is sublime with its ramparts, its medieval streets and its castle of the XIII and XIV centuries. Besalú is another must-see when you appreciate medieval atmospheres. The Pyrenees of Girona are also a sanctuary of Romanesque art. This is evident in the charming villages of Oix and Beget, whose buildings live in profound harmony with a nature that consists of towering cliffs, holm oaks and common oaks. On the coast, the Costa Brava is rich in fishing towns and villages. We like Cadaqués for its location between mountains and sea and its close links with great artists. One can visit the House-Workshop of Salvador Dalí, genius of the Empordà. The medieval architecture has also taken over the towns located on the seafront. The old town of Tossa de Mar is one of the most beautiful examples. The wall and its towers invite you to enjoy breathtaking views of the sea, before reaching the beach below.

A territory that is an ode to nature

A stay in Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees is perfect for getting a good dose of nature. The territory is rich in treasures such as the lake of Banyoles, the largest in Catalonia. It takes its name from the medieval town full of history located on its right bank. A walk or a bike ride around the transparent waters is perfect to recharge your batteries. But you can also practice water activities such as canoeing, kayaking and rowing. Let's not forget to mention the natural parks. With its rocks that plunge into the sea and whose shapes have been sculpted by water and wind, the Cap de Creus Natural Park offers splendid marine views in the north of the Costa Brava. Together with the Montgrí Natural Park, the Medes Islands and the Baix Ter, it is one of the most beautiful places to venture out and enjoy the rugged Mediterranean landscape. The Costa Brava is also home to elegant botanical gardens. You can't miss the Pinya de Rosa botanical garden, with its typical tropical plant species; the Marimurtra garden in Blanes, with indigenous plants and trees from all over the world; and the Cap Roig gardens in Calella de Palafrugell, which also feature plants from five continents. The Costa Brava also knows how to surprise its visitors with spaces such as the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park. Pastures, beaches, ponds, rivers, sea, marshes, the place presents an incredible diversity of landscapes, as well as being home to many animals including birds, storks and kingfishers.

In the mountains, the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park is a great place to walk from the Croscat and Santa Margarida volcanoes to the Jordà beech forest, passing through the Batet mountain. And for those travelers who envy coming back in winter, it is worth noting that the powder snow is generous in the resorts of La Molina and Masella. Accommodation, quality facilities, slopes for all levels, entertainment of all kinds, the destination is ideal for lovers of winter sports.

Culture and gastronomy in Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees

Culture and traditions are another facet of the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees of Girona. We have already mentioned Dalí's House-Workshop in Cadaques, and we should not forget the other two places in the Dalinian Triangle that take us to the heart of the artist's life and work: the Theatre-Museum in Figueres and the Gala-Dalí House-Museum-Castle in La Pera. Culture in the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees is also a heritage to be contemplated and which reveals its rich and long history. We can contemplate Gothic elements while strolling through the streets of the walled city of Peratallada, before immersing ourselves in the Romanesque art, present in great numbers. It can be found on the churches of Sant Cristòfor de Beget and Sant Esteve de Llanars, on the large and impressive monasteries of Sant Pere de Rodes and Sant Joan de les Abadesses, on the Tower of the Hours in the old quarter of Pals and in the historic district of the dynamic Girona. Even older, some archaeological sites fascinate lovers of ancient buildings. How can you not be moved by the beauty of the ruins of Empúries in L'Escale, remains of Greek civilization by the sea, as well as the Iberian village of Ullastret, remains of a city dating from the 6th century BC.

Want to discover crafts? Go to La Bisbal, the capital of ceramics, with streets full of workshops displaying their creations.

And don't forget that the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees have no shortage of cultural events, including music festivals in baroque, jazz, pop and rock styles! Music also marries with gastronomy and wine atevents of all kinds

In fact, a holiday would not be complete without moments around the table. The gastronomy of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees is renowned far beyond the territory's borders, from cured meats and cheeses from the mountains to seafood. The cuisine can be enjoyed in renowned restaurants or on picnics along the AO Empordà Wine Route. The wines can also be tasted at the end of August-beginning of September, at the time of the harvest and directly from the producers.

More information on the website of the Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona and on the Facebook and Instagram pages