Estartit: Platja Gran, Illes Medes and Maritime Heritage

Platja Gran de l’Estartit is more than three kilometres long. Its main section has fine sand and shallow water.

At the sea, an extensive beach meets a main section that slopes gently into the water. Platja Gran forms l’Estartit’s coastal area, while the Illes Medes archipelago provides the town with a second maritime landscape offshore.

Nature

The Illes Medes belong to the Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter. The islands lie about one nautical mile off the beach of l’Estartit. La Pletera forms a typical Mediterranean coastal ecosystem between Els Griells and the Gola del Ter.

The landscape of l’Estartit therefore includes both the beach and the protected coastal area of La Pletera, as well as the natural environment of the Illes Medes. The dune protection rule adds a clear requirement to this landscape: in the protected areas, visitors must stay off the dunes and use the designated paths.

Culture

The Itinerario del Estar y el Tit is a self-guided route. Along it, visitors discover l’Estartit’s fishing heritage and natural landscapes. The Itinerario includes worksheets with activities and games centred on the figures Estar and Tit. Another self-guided route is called “l’Estartit, terra de pescadors”. It explores l’Estartit’s maritime origins through the town’s oldest streets. The oldest streets form the historic setting of this route.

The two routes connect different expressions of the town: the Itinerario del Estar y el Tit brings together fishing heritage and natural landscapes and uses the figures Estar and Tit, while “l’Estartit, terra de pescadors” reveals the maritime origins in l’Estartit’s oldest streets. Both offerings are designed as self-guided routes.

Maritime Heritage

The Espai Medes is located in the port of l’Estartit. It is a centre for discovering and interpreting the Illes Medes and the town’s maritime culture. The Espai Medes offers an interactive experience for adults and children. The exhibition “Un viatge al fons del mar” uses technology and interactive elements. It conveys the distinctive features of the natural environment, its biodiversity and the richness of the seabed. The Illes Medes are at the centre of the exhibition as a natural environment and seabed.

At the Espai Medes, the islands are therefore presented not only as part of the landscape, but also through their maritime culture and seabed. The exhibition combines technological tools with interactive elements for an experience aimed at adults and children. The natural environment, biodiversity and seabed remain its main themes.

Port

The port of l’Estartit has glass-bottom boats and boats for divers. The glass-bottom boats make the description of their construction an immediately visible part of the port’s offering. The Illes Medes are a destination for scuba diving. Núria is a fishing boat more than 80 years old. On an excursion aboard Núria, visitors can learn about the work of l’Estartit’s artisanal fishermen.

The port’s offering thus ranges from glass-bottom boats to boats for divers. Núria adds a historic fishing boat: the more than 80-year-old boat is connected with l’Estartit’s artisanal fishing tradition, whose work visitors can discover on an excursion.

Other destinations at the same level are La Torre Vella, Els Griells, Sobrestany and El Mas Pinell.

In the protected areas, visitors should stay off the dunes and remain on the designated paths.

For the overarching travel overview: Torroella De Montgri.