Category Archives: Where is the Costa Brava

Where is the Costa Brava?

Chances are that any traveler to the Costa Brava will travel through Girona, and they should. But, the real treats lie in the towns and villages along the coast, and into the mountains. Solely for purposes of this book, and not in relation to any true geographic designation, the resources in the book are separated into five main areas: 1) Girona; 2) Alt Empordà; 3) Baix Empordà; 4) La Selva; and 5) the Pyrenees. But, what do these regions mean?

Girona city is the capital of the province of Girona. The surrounding area is also referred to as Girones. This is an area that extends beyond the city.

Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà refer to the geographic territory of the DO Empordà wine region. Alt Empordà (or, high Empordà) is along the coast, to the north, starting with Portbou, almost to the French border. Alt Empordà meets Baix Empordà (or, lower Empordà), along the coast, around L’Escala. The area of Baix Empordà starts just south of L’Escala, and runs to just south of Sant Feliu de Guíxols.

South of Baix Empordà is an area called La Selva, which includes some coast, but also stretches into the plains, and heads in the direction of Barcelona. Finally, the Pyrenees includes the areas of Garrotxa, Ripollès, and beyond, almost to Andorra. Because when answering where is the Costa Brava, the answer is more than just Girona, and the coast.