Roses Guide | Costa Brava

South of the Albera Range, Roses Bay forms a deep inlet in the coastline some 15 km long, with long sandy beaches and marshland. It is bounded by the Cap de Creus peninsula to the north and the Montgrí massif to the south.

Rhode and Emporion, located at either end of the bay, were the gateways through which Greek culture entered the country. Both have developed into major tourist resorts: Roses in the north and L’Escala to the south.

Roses is the charming fishing village of Alt Empordà that welcomes visitors to the doors of the Cap de Creus Natural Park (Parc Natural del Cap de Creus).

The origins of Roses date back the VIII century BC, with the arrival and establishment of the Rhodian, originating from the Greek island of Rhodes. Its name comes from this origins. Trade and the Roman occupation of this place have made a melting pot that explains the mood of a very modern, open, active and generous population.

Roses touristic points of interest are many and very different among them. Faced with the great natural landscapes that offer their creeks: Cala Montjoi, Cala Canyelles, Cala Jóncols, Cala Murtra, Cala Lledó, Cala Rustella, etc. you can also find cultural highlights of great interest as the route of the dolmens (dolmen Creu d'en Cobertella, Llit de la Generala, Cap de l'Home, Casa Cremada), also the Museum of Ciutadella (Citadel), the Castle of Santa Trinitat, Roses the Lighthouse and many other. Roses also has the largest fishing port in northern Costa Brava.

Roses Citadel Roses Coast

The cultural and musical offer of Roses is extensive and includes lectures, rock and blues festivals, exhibitions, concerts of various types of music and more. In summer the village hosts one of the major music festivals in the Costa Brava: Sons of Món (Sound of the World).

he best time to stroll by the harbour, one of the busiest on the Costa Brava, is in the evening, when the fishing boats sail in with their escort of gulls.

The terraces are an invitation to sit and chat, while the fortified precinct of the Ciutadella, built in the 16th century by Charles V to protect the region from pirates, merits a leisurely visit. Inside this vast fortress are the remains of the Greek colony of Rhode, founded in the 4th century BC, and the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria. All kinds of water sports can be practised at Roses, off the town’s own beaches of fine sand and in the coves of L’Almadrava, Montjoi and Jòncols.

If you are interested in nature walks and tours Roses offers well marked and accessible ones, through an exceptional nature resulting from the combination of sea and mountains.

The coast of Roses is full of contrasts. You'll find many cliffs overlooking the sea, but also quiet creeks with clear and shallow waters, soft sand, providing ideal conditions for practicing water sports like kayaking, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, paragliding, etc. For all these reasons, the family fun in this village at the foot of Cape Creus is guaranteed.

Roses Bay

The name of Roses has been linked in recent years to the figure of the excellent chef Ferran Adrià, worldwide well-known for its innovative cuisine. Its famous restaurant, El Bulli, located in the idyllic Cala Montjoi, has become the El Bulli Foundation, a center of culinary research.

Ferran Adrià, El Bulli chef Roses harbour

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