Figueres has a mild Mediterranean climate, perfectly developed beach and sightseeing tourism, excellent hotels, restaurants and beaches, a lot of natural, cultural and historical sights.
Figueres is a famous Catalan city in Spain, the birthplace of Salvador Dali. In the 7th-6th centuries BC. The Indigeth tribes lived here, and later, in the 2nd century B.C. the Romans came here and built a small village on the Domitsev road.
Top 10 attractions in Figueres
The first name of this settlement, Juncaria, was given by the Romans, but later the Western Goths renamed it Figueres. Today it is a wonderful resort town located on the western shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Salvador Dali Museum
This museum, formerly a theater, is famous for being the place where Dali, as a teenager, first exhibited his paintings. Today you can see many of his later paintings here, as well as the crypt with the great surrealist’s ashes.
The Salvador Dali Museum displays all the works he bequeathed to Spain before his death. Also on display here are works by Catalan artists, also previously owned by Dali and held in his own collection.
The Church of St. John the Baptist. Pedro
This Catholic church was built no later than the 10th century in the Romanesque style, later reconstructed many times. In the 14th century the church was rebuilt in the Catalan Gothic style, and half a century later an organ was installed there. This construction ended in the 16th century.
Two centuries later, the church authorities decided to expand the church. And at the beginning of the last century as a result of military action, it burned to the ground. It was not until the middle of the century that the church of St. John the Baptist was built. Pedro was rebuilt, and it took on its present form.
Today the church has retained or restored many elements of medieval Gothic, and a bit of Romanesque can be seen on its north side. That is why it attracts the attention of many tourists and even architectural experts.
Toy Museum of Catalonia
This wonderful museum was opened in the 1980s. A great place to come with the kids and spend the whole day to have time to see over 4,500 exhibits: dolls, doll dishes, children’s furniture, magician’s sets, etc.
Here are widely represented vintage toys made by hand, as well as toys that once belonged to the great and famous Spaniards: Lorca, Miró, Fabre, Dali and others, there is a collection of photos of the rarest and already disappeared toys.
The museum is located on the Rambla in the former hotel called “Paris”. When you visit it, you get a feeling of returning to childhood, peace and balance. Home comfort and fairy tales told by parents are inevitably recalled.
Ampurdan Museum
Ampourdan is one of the parts of the province of Girona, which includes the city of Figueres. The museum has a huge collection of various works of art created by artists from Ampurdan. It was opened at the end of the World War in the 1940s.
The museum’s collection was created through the donation or bequest of some paintings and sculptures by the authors or their descendants. Later there were also archaeological finds made in the province since the Roman colonization of this land.
The Fortress of Sts. Fernando
This fortress was erected in honor of King Fernando IV who ruled at the time. Construction began in the mid-18th century, it involved at least 4,000 builders. But with the death of the king, it slowed down and dragged on for several decades.
Only at the end of the 18th century, a large garrison of up to 4,000 soldiers was approved in the fortress. Nearly 500 horses appeared in the stables. There were large cellars with gunpowder. But very soon this Spanish fortress surrendered to Napoleon’s forces.
The House of Salvador Dali
After gaining international fame, the artist and his wife Gala returned home to Figueres from Paris and purchased this house. Originally it was a barn for fishing tackle, but over the years the house expanded and more huts were purchased.
Next to the house in one of the buildings, the artist created his studio, where he wrote new masterpieces. This is where his Gala died.
Tourists and admirers of Dali’s work will be interested to see the interiors of the house, which have remained unchanged since his death.
Poubol Castle
This castle is located in the province of Girona, near Figueres, it was built in the 11th century, and in the 1970s it was purchased by Salvador Dali for his wife Gala. In the courtyard of the castle many elements of medieval Gothic.
Dali restored the castle with the help of his friends, carefully preserving all its antiquities and ruins. The interiors of the castle are painted by the artist himself. Baroque fabrics and antique furniture can be seen in the house. In the garden is a fountain with a bust of Wagner.
La Rambla
This is the main boulevard of Figueres, where in the evenings like to relax and stroll citizens and tourists. Here is the center of the city’s commerce, you can walk through the markets and stores. It is also the historical and cultural center of the city, you can look at the architecture.
The boulevard was born in the 1920s, in its place used to be a river. The trees that were planted at that time still stand on the boulevard. Interesting architectural sights of different styles on La Rambla were built in the late 19th century.
The square of the Gra
This square appeared in Figueres at the beginning of the 19th century and at first was an ordinary street market. Half a century later, it has got the look that tourists like so much. The surface of the square is covered with paving stones, and a roof is installed on top.
It is a very simple structure made of metal and tiles, where tourists from northern latitudes hide from the sultry Catalan sun. Gra Square is a great solution for this resort, fitting perfectly into the local architecture.
Potato Square
This is another city market square where, until the mid-20th century, local farmers traded the potatoes and other vegetables they grew. Today, trade is closed, and the square is beloved by tourists and guests of Figueres.
Around the area are the houses of the 17-18 centuries, from Baroque to Classicism, street cafes by day, tourists and citizens make their promenade in the evenings. Late in the evening there are noisy youth hangouts. There are no cars here – this is a pedestrian area.
Video overview of the sights of Figueres
Sightseeing map of Figueres
