Roses Gulf
Encyclopedia
The Gulf of Roses is the most north eastern bay
on the Catalan
coast.
The Bay is 16 km wide and is formed by the valley of the Fluvià
river but also contains the esturies of the Manol and la Muga rivers. These rivers drain the southern flanks of the eastern end of the Pyrenees and Alberes. The area is often effected by the severe Tramuntana wind.
The bay contains the resorts of Roses, Castelló d'Empúries
/Empuriabrava
, Sant Pere Pescador
, Empúries
and L'Escala
.
The bay was originally settled by the Greeks who created a trading post at Empúries
which became a Roman town before being abandoned after Viking and Muslim pirate raids along the coast. The area was the domain of the Count of Empúries.
The area was malarial swamp for much of the Middle Ages. Irrigation schemes lead to much of the former marshland becoming farmland. Tourism caused further encroachment in particular the 1960s resort of Empúriabrava, which includes canals and moorings for detached villas. An important wintering spot for traveling birds the marsh has now been designated the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà. To the north overlooking the Bay lies the Parc Natural del Cap de Creus
.
The bay is also home to the famous Catalan restaurant El Bulli
.
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
on the Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
coast.
The Bay is 16 km wide and is formed by the valley of the Fluvià
Fluvià
The Fluvià is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
river but also contains the esturies of the Manol and la Muga rivers. These rivers drain the southern flanks of the eastern end of the Pyrenees and Alberes. The area is often effected by the severe Tramuntana wind.
The bay contains the resorts of Roses, Castelló d'Empúries
Castelló d'Empúries
Castelló d'Empúries is a town and municipality in the Alt Empordà and lies 9 km east of Figueres.In 1079, Castelló d'Empúries became the capital of the Empúries county due to the previous capital, Sant Martí d'Empúries, being too easily sacked by pirates...
/Empuriabrava
Empuriabrava
Empuriabrava is one of the largest marinas in the world. It is located on the coast of Girona ....
, Sant Pere Pescador
Sant Pere Pescador
Sant Pere Pescador is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Empordà, Girona, Catalonia, Spain, is a small town in the Bay of Roses on the river Fluvià....
, Empúries
Empúries
Empúries , formerly known by its Spanish name Ampurias , was a town on the Mediterranean coast of the Catalan comarca of Alt Empordà in Catalonia, Spain. It was founded in 575 BC by Greek colonists from Phocaea with the name of Ἐμπόριον...
and L'Escala
L'Escala
L'Escala is a municipality in the comarca of the Alt Empordà in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the Costa Brava, located between the southern end of the Gulf of Roses and Cala Montgó. It is an important fishing port and tourist centre, and has a festival dedicated to its famous anchovies...
.
The bay was originally settled by the Greeks who created a trading post at Empúries
Empúries
Empúries , formerly known by its Spanish name Ampurias , was a town on the Mediterranean coast of the Catalan comarca of Alt Empordà in Catalonia, Spain. It was founded in 575 BC by Greek colonists from Phocaea with the name of Ἐμπόριον...
which became a Roman town before being abandoned after Viking and Muslim pirate raids along the coast. The area was the domain of the Count of Empúries.
The area was malarial swamp for much of the Middle Ages. Irrigation schemes lead to much of the former marshland becoming farmland. Tourism caused further encroachment in particular the 1960s resort of Empúriabrava, which includes canals and moorings for detached villas. An important wintering spot for traveling birds the marsh has now been designated the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà. To the north overlooking the Bay lies the Parc Natural del Cap de Creus
Cap de Creus
Cap de Creus is a peninsula and a headland located at the far NE of Catalonia, some 25 km south from the French border. The nearest town is Figueres, capital of the Alt Empordà and birthplace of Salvador Dalí...
.
The bay is also home to the famous Catalan restaurant El Bulli
El Bulli
elBulli was a Michelin 3-star restaurant near the town of Roses, Catalonia, Spain, run by chef Ferran Adrià. The small restaurant overlooked Cala Montjoi, a bay on Catalonia's Costa Brava, and has been described as "the most imaginative generator of haute cuisine on the planet" and does a great...
.