El Port de la Selva – Coast, Culture and Nature at Cap de Creus

Culture

The Parc Natural del Cap de Creus extends, among other areas, across the municipality of el Port de la Selva. The monumental ensemble of Sant Pere de Rodes comprises the Sant Pere de Rodes monastery, the settlement of Santa Creu and Verdera Castle. The monastery church is considered an exceptional work of Catalan Romanesque architecture due to its distinctive character and age.

Castell de Sant Salvador de Verdera stands on the 670-metre-high summit of the Serra de Rodes, its highest peak. A footpath to the castle begins next to the entrance of the Sant Pere de Rodes monastery. A Catalan branch of the Camí de Sant Jaume leads from the municipality of el Port de la Selva to the monastery.

The Camí de Sant Jaume starts at kilometre 0 in the centre of el Port de la Selva, on Avinguda JV Foix directly by the sea. The Ermita de Sant Baldiri de Taballera comprises a church, a rectory and other ancillary buildings within partially fortified grounds with a round watchtower. This tower dates from 1558 and is classified as BCIN. The Ermita complex is classified as BCIL; its defensive tower has been protected as BCIN since 1985.

History

Sant Baldiri was continuously inhabited from the 6th century until the end of the 19th century. The Paradolmen de la Pallera consists of a partly artificial, round chamber with a narrow corridor; remains of an earlier burial mound have been preserved. The site dates from the first half of the 3rd millennium BC.

The Església de Santa Helena de Rodes has pre-Romanesque origins and was the church of the medieval settlement of Santa Creu de Rodes. The Església de Santa Maria de les Neus in el Port de la Selva is a building from the first half of the 20th century. It was reconstructed after the war in 1944, extended and modernised in 1962, and has the shape of a Latin cross. It contains a 15th-century Gothic polychrome stone statue of Sant Pere, which was saved from the looting of the monastery.

The Fira de l'Espàrrec is a spring gastronomic and craft fair dedicated to wild asparagus.

Landscape

The Itinerari geològic describes el Port de la Selva as a landscape dominated by schist, with a rugged coastline and numerous coves. The Itinerari geològic is 5 km long and takes approximately two hours. Its first point, the lighthouse, can be reached by bus via the Cap de Vol stop.

The Far de s'Arenella is located on the coastal path between el Port de la Selva and Llançà. The lighthouse at Punta s’Arenella was preceded by a watchtower. The El mirador dels Tres Canons viewpoint offers views of the town, the bay and the surrounding mountains. The beaches and coves of el Port de la Selva range from fine sand to rounded stones shaped by the sea and wind.

Paths and Activities

The Itinerari natural de la Mar d'Amunt fins a Cala Taballera begins in el Port de la Selva, partly follows the GR11 long-distance trail and covers approximately 15 km there and back, with a total duration of five hours. The Itinerari de Sant Baldiri de Taballera leads on foot from the start of the Camí dels Masos for approximately 5 km, taking about 50 minutes to reach the Ermita.

Cap de Creus Dive provides access to 20 diving sites in the Parc Natural del Cap de Creus, as well as introductory dives, courses and diving excursions. The Club Nàutic del Port de la Selva offers group sailing trips open to everyone; previous experience or sailing knowledge is not required.

Other Places

Other places in Catalonia: Tossa De Mar, Ullastret, La Pinya, Canet D'adri, Sant Joan Les Fonts, Sant Feliu de Buixalleu, Sant Martí Del Clot, Olot

To the higher-level travel overview: Girona.