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Alt_Empordà Latitude and Longitude:

42°17′17″N 2°55′59″E / 42.2881°N 2.93306°E / 42.2881; 2.93306
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alt Empordà
Flag of Alt Empordà
Coat of arms of Alt Empordà
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Catalonia
Region Comarques Gironines
Province Girona
Capital Figueres
Municipalities
Government
 • Body Alt Empordà Comarcal Council
 • PresidentAgustí Badosa ( Junts)
Area
 • Total1,357.4 km2 (524.1 sq mi)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total140,214
 • Density100/km2 (270/sq mi)
Demonym 
Time zone UTC+1 ( CET)
 • Summer ( DST) UTC+2 ( CEST)
Largest municipality Figueres
Coastal cliffs, Cervera de la Marenda, near the French border

Alt Empordà is one of the three counties into which Empordà was divided in the regional division of 1936, in the Gironine Counties. It has the shape of an inverted triangle with curves that places its base in the direction of the Pyrenees.

In 1936, the year of the first official regionalization of Catalonia, the division of most of Empordà into two administrative regions was approved, based more on economic and market criteria than on historical, geographical or cultural ones ( l'Alt Empordà and l'Baix Empordà), the limit of which was set by taking advantage of the imaginary line that runs through the Massís del Montgrí and continues between the watershed of the Ter and Fluvià basins.

It should be borne in mind that a small part of the Empordà remained within the limits of the Gironès, part of which today belongs to the Pla de l'Estany.

Geography

physical environment

It borders with Vallespir and Rosselló to the north; with the Mediterranean to the east; with Baix Empordà, Gironès and Pla de l'Estany to the south, and with Garrotxa to the west.

View from the Monastery of Sant Pere de Roda

Geographically, Alt Empordà is located in the north-eastern sector of Catalonia. The region borders France, with the Axial Pyrenees, where granite and slate rocks dominate. Highlights include Albera with Puig Neulós (1,256 m) and Les Salines with Roc de Frausa (1,421 m) and Roc del Comptador (1,451 m), the latter the highest peak in the Empordà. This sector of the axial Pyrenees separates the plain of Empordà from that of Rosselló. Communication between both plains is not easy and the situation of the passes has conditioned the establishment of communication routes. Currently the Pertús pass (283 m), between La Jonquera and El Voló, and located almost in the center of the Empordà Pyrenees, is the most frequented pass. The national road and the motorway that connect Barcelona, Girona and Figueres with Perpignan and the rest of France pass through Pertús. No other main road crosses these border mountains. The railway passes through the eastern end, along the coast, between Portbou and Cervera de la Marenda. The route of the railway forced the opening of numerous tunnels and the construction of several bridges. The road that follows the direction of the railway makes numerous bends.

But the Axial Pyrenees does not end at Cape Cervera. It continues in a southeasterly direction with the Serra de Roda and the entire Cap de Creus peninsula, where the Pení reaches 606 m. Throughout this sector the coast is very rugged and steep with high cliffs and small coves. Among others there is the Serra de la Baga d'en Ferran located in the municipalities of Garriguella, Llançà and Vilamaniscle with a maximum elevation of 391 meters,[1][2] or the Puig de Sant Silvestre', a mountain of 307 meters[ 1] between the municipalities of Garriguella and Llançà.[3]

To the west of the Alt Empordà is the eastern end of the Pre-Pyrenees, where limestone rocks dominate. The relief is steep with cliffs and spades. The Puig de Bassegoda (1,374 m) and the Serra del Mont (1,124 m) stand out. This sector of the Pre-Pyrenees is the continuation of the Alta Garrotxa mountain ranges, with which they have many similarities. That is why it should not be surprising that they are known as the garroxes of the Empordà.

Municipalities

Municipality Population
(2014) [1]
Area
km2 [1]
Agullana 826 27.7
Albanyà 155 94.4
L'Armentera 901 5.6
Avinyonet de Puigventós 1,581 12.3
Bàscara 949 17.5
Biure 245 10.0
Boadella i les Escaules 248 10.8
Borrassà 728 9.4
Cabanelles 243 55.6
Cabanes 921 15.0
Cadaqués 2,820 26.4
Cantallops 324 19.6
Capmany 612 26.4
Castelló d'Empúries 11,473 42.3
Cistella 293 25.6
Colera 532 24.4
Darnius 534 34.9
L'Escala 10,143 16.3
Espolla 417 43.6
El Far d'Empordà 563 9.0
Figueres 45,444 19.3
Fortià 710 10.8
Garrigàs 398 19.9
Garriguella 857 21.0
La Jonquera 3,115 56.9
Lladó 767 13.5
Llançà 4,970 28.0
Llers 1,242 21.3
Maçanet de Cabrenys 781 67.9
Masarac 284 12.6
Mollet de Peralada 182 6.0
Navata 1,262 18.5
Ordis 380 8.6
Palau de Santa Eulàlia 98 8.4
Palau-saverdera 1,437 16.4
Pau 569 10.7
Pedret i Marzà 189 8.6
Peralada 1,859 43.6
Pont de Molins 529 8.7
Pontós 223 13.7
El Port de la Selva 980 41.6
Portbou 1,214 9.2
Rabós 182 45.1
Riumors 244 6.5
Roses 19,600 45.9
Sant Climent Sescebes 590 24.4
Sant Llorenç de la Muga 249 31.8
Sant Miquel de Fluvià 798 3.5
Sant Mori 177 7.5
Sant Pere Pescador 2,138 18.4
Santa Llogaia d'Àlguema 341 1.9
Saus, Camallera i Llampaies 815 11.4
La Selva de Mar 181 7.2
Siurana 150 10.5
Terrades 288 21.0
Torroella de Fluvià 704 16.8
La Vajol 86 4.7
Ventalló 836 25.0
Vila-sacra 681 6.0
Vilabertran 913 2.3
Viladamat 440 11.7
Vilafant 5,481 8.4
Vilajuïga 1,190 13.1
Vilamacolum 307 5.6
Vilamalla 1,103 8.8
Vilamaniscle 170 5.5
Vilanant 399 16.9
Vilaür 153 5.5
• Total: 68 140,214 1,357.4

History

Main facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Castelló d'Empúries

Empordà is one of the oldest and most important counties in Catalonia. Its most relevant history began when the Greeks entered the coasts of this territory and established the Greek colony of Emporion, currently known as Empúries, which was the gateway to the Hellenic and Latin civilizations in Catalonia. The region maintained its essence in its own dynasty and great vitality until the 14th century.

The Empordà has been a source of inspiration for numerous artists and writers, among whom stand out names such as Josep Pla, Salvador Dalí or Carles Fages de Climent, who from an extreme localism have sought to project themselves towards the universality

Declaration of independence

On December 11, 2012, Alt Empordà declared itself Free Catalan Territory, thus proclaiming its independence from the Spanish state.[6]


Places of interest

Article principal: Llista de monuments de l'Alt Empordà

  • Costa Brava nord
  • Monuments megalítics de l'Alt Empordà
  • Empúries
  • Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà
  • Parc Natural del Cap de Creus
  • Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter
  • Paratge Natural d'Interès Nacional de l'Albera
  • Monestir de Sant Pere de Roda
  • Santa Maria de Vilabertran
  • Teatre-Museu Dalí
  • Basílica de Santa Maria de Castelló d'Empúries
  • Sant Tomàs de Fluvià
  • Castell de Sant Ferran
  • Castell de Peralada
  • Museu Nacional del Joguet de Catalunya
  • Ecomuseu-Farinera de Castelló d'Empúries
  • Ciutadella de Roses
  • Sant Llorenç de la Muga

Illustrious Alt-Empordanos

Categoria principal: Altempordanesos
  • Ermenguer d'Empúries (813-817)
  • Gausfred I d'Empúries (931-991)
  • Hug III d'Empúries (1154-1173)
  • Hug IV d'Empúries (1170-1230)
  • Ramon Muntaner (Peralada, 1265 – Eivissa, 1336)
  • Sibil·la de Fortià (Fortià?, c. 1350 - Barcelona, 1406)
  • Joan II d'Empúries (1398-1401)
  • Pere III d'Empúries (1401)
  • Bernat Hug de Rocabertí (Maçanet de Cabrenys, c.1415 - Montsó, 1485)
  • Beat Maurici Proeta (Castelló d'Empúries, començament del s. XVI - Mallorca, 1544)
  • Abdon Terradas i Paulí (Figueres, 1812 - Medina Sidonia, Andalusia, 1856)
  • Narcís Fages i de Romà (Figueres, 1813 - Figueres, 1884)
  • Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol (Figueres, 1819 - Sant Martí de Provençals, 1885)
  • Bonaventura Frigola i Frigola (Castelló d'Empúries, 1829 – Barcelona, 1901)
  • Josep Rubau Donadeu i Corcellés (Figueres, 1841 - Madrid, 1916)
  • Antoni Agramont i Quintana (Castelló d'Empúries, 1851 - 1906)
  • Frederic Rahola i Trèmols (Cadaqués, 1858 - 1919)
  • Caterina Albert i Paradís (L'Escala, 1869 - L'Escala, 1966)
  • Carles Rahola i Llorens (Cadaqués, 1881 – Girona, 1939)
  • Josep Blanch i Reynalt (Castelló d'Empúries, 1888 - 1954)
  • Frederic Marès i Deulovol (Portbou, 1893 - Barcelona, 1991)
  • Martí Vilanova i Purcallas (Figueres, 1896 - Aulnay-sous-Bois, França, 1930)
  • Jaume Compte i Canelles (Castelló d'Empúries, 1897 - Barcelona, 1934)
  • Carles Fages de Climent (Figueres, 1902 - Figueres, 1968)
  • Alexandre Deulofeu i Torres (L'Armentera, 1903 - Figueres, 1978)
  • Salvador Dalí i Domènech (Figueres, 1904 – Figueres, 1989)
  • Jaume Miravitlles i Navarra (Figueres, 1906 - Barcelona, 1988)
  • Maria dels Àngels Vayreda i Trullol (Lladó, 1910 - Figueres, 1977)
  • Joan Reglà i Campistol (Bàscara, 1917 - Sant Cugat del Vallès, 1973)
  • Josep Pallach i Carolà (Figueres, 1920 - L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 1977)
  • Fabià Estapé i Rodríguez (Portbou, 1923 - Lleó, 2012)
  • Joan Alsina i Hurtós (Castelló d'Empúries, 1942 – Santiago de Xile, 1973)

References

  1. ^ a b "El municipi en xifres". Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya. Retrieved 2015-05-25.

External links


42°17′17″N 2°55′59″E / 42.2881°N 2.93306°E / 42.2881; 2.93306