Campdorà between the Ter and Gavarres

Campdorà lies between the Ter River and the foothills of the Gavarres massif. A completed greenway connection links Pont Major with Campdorà. The section from the Pont Major cemetery to Campdorà is 4,230 metres long and runs parallel to the Ter River.

The starting point at the Pont Major cemetery, the route running parallel to the Ter and the connection to Campdorà together define a clearly delimited section. Its length of 4,230 metres makes the route a tangible independent connection, while the course of the river determines its spatial progression.

Trails and landscape

The Anella Verda route leads around the hill of Campdorà and ends at the agricultural land of Campdorà. The one-way route takes approximately two hours. From Girona, access is via the C-255 road towards Celrà, la Bisbal and Palamós. At Pla de Campdorà, a narrow paved path leading uphill to Campdorà follows a straight stretch of about 1 km, with approximately 750 metres of the straight stretch covered.

The Anella Verda thus connects the hill of Campdorà with the agricultural land at the end of the route. The approximate duration of two hours applies to the one-way route and indicates its time frame. The access route is also described in individual sections: the narrow paved path leading uphill to Campdorà follows the approximately 1 km-long straight stretch at Pla de Campdorà; approximately 750 metres of the straight stretch are covered.

Further destinations: La Pera, Sant Feliu de Buixalleu, La Jonquera, Castellfollit De La Roca, Regencós, Palafrugell, Hostalric and Roses.

History and buildings

Sant Jaume de Campdorà is already mentioned in a historical record from 1066. During the sieges of Girona in the Spanish War of Independence in 1808 and 1809, Sant Jaume de Campdorà was severely damaged. The Romanesque church of Campdorà dates from the 12th century, but has been substantially altered.

Campdorà Castle preserves a few remains of a 12th-century fortification. In 1493, the castle was adapted for the use of firearms. Joan Campmany received a charter from King Ferdinand the Catholic to expand Campdorà into a true castle.

The history of the settlement thus extends from the mention of Sant Jaume de Campdorà in 1066 and the sieges of Girona to the structural changes made to the church and castle. The church retains its Romanesque origins from the 12th century despite substantial later alterations. By contrast, only a few remains of the fortification survive at the castle; its adaptation for firearms is recorded as having taken place in 1493.

Water, spa and riverbanks

The Font Picant del Congost is located in Campdorà and was restored in 2016. The Campdorà spa made the area a highly frequented place from the beginning of the 20th century until the Spanish Civil War. The riverside area next to the Gorgs del Ter was known as “les delícies del Congost”. This riverside area was formerly used by many visitors for celebrations and traditional communal meals known as “feixines”.

Several periods in time converge by the water: the Font Picant del Congost was restored in 2016, while the spa was a highly frequented place from the beginning of the 20th century until the Spanish Civil War. The former riverside life next to the Gorgs del Ter is associated with the name “les delícies del Congost” and the celebrations and traditional communal meals, the “feixines”, held there.

For the broader travel overview: Girona.