Figueres is distinct yet culturally rich city in Catalonia, offering unique experiences for visitors. Prepare your sef to discover one of the mont unknown villages in Catalonia.
Sant Quirze de Colera
Located at the heart of the Albera Natural Park, the partially restored 10th century Benedictine Abbey of Sant Quirze comes as a great surprise for the adventurous hikers. Away from any village, the remains of the old Sant Quirze Monastery are part of the Romanesque legacy in the area.
The architectural complex includes the main church, the cloister and the few meters away 12th century Santa Maria church. In 2006, during the renovation of the main church, remains of medieval murals were discovered at the southern apse and stand as the only decoration in the whole compound.
Only a part of the 10th century cloister is preserved and give access to a large chamber, which could have been the refectory or the dormitory, and the Abbot’s Palace. The monastery was fortified in the 14th century, we can still see today the defence tower and the remains of the ramparts.
Figueres
Figueres is best known as the birthplace of the renowned surrealist artist Salvador Dalí and home to the Dalí Theatre-Museum, which features a wide range of Dalí’s works, spanning various periods of his artistic career. Beyond just his paintings, Dali’s eclectic artistic vision is also on display in the museum’s distinctive surreal architecture, which he built over the ruins of the neighborhood theater.
The town itself dates back to Roman times. Situated near the Spanish-French border, Figueres is often swept by strong northen winds known as the Tramuntanas, which have shaped the local character for centuries. Today, Figueres is a tranquil market town well connected to Barcelona and to the remarkable Costa Brava.
