Roses – Coast, Nature and History

Roses is located in the heart of the Parc Natural de Cap de Creus, an area of great importance for nature and the landscape. The Parc Natural de Cap de Creus is Catalonia’s first maritime-terrestrial nature park and brings together rock formations shaped by erosion, hidden coves with crystal-clear water, and exceptional biodiversity in its flora and fauna.

The varied coastline of Roses includes cliffs and sheltered coves with transparent water, as well as fine-sand beaches with intensely blue, shallow water.

Another place to discover is El Mas Fumats.

More location pages: La Vall De Bianya, Lloret De Mar, Fornells De La Selva, Vilobí D'onyar, Puigcerdá, Cassà De La Selva, Romanyà d'Empordà.

Nature and Coast

A designated coastal route in the south of the Parc Natural de Cap de Creus leads from Roses to cala Jóncols and runs via cala Montjoi and Norfeu. The landscape of the nature park includes both striking rocks shaped by erosion and hidden coves with crystal-clear water, as well as exceptional diversity in flora and fauna.

Roses has a varied coastline with cliffs and sheltered coves with transparent water. It also features fine-sand beaches with intensely blue, shallow water.

Hiking Routes

Roses’ hiking options include a section of the Costa Brava coastal path, known as the GR-92. Twelve hiking routes are proposed for Roses, including coastal, megalithic, olive-grove and castrum routes.

The routes offered by Roses can be explored on foot, by bicycle or while running. The hiking routes also include an ascent of puig de l’Àliga.

History and Archaeology

La Ciutadella is a 131,480 m² military complex in the Renaissance style; it was built in 1543 and classified as a historical-artistic ensemble in 1961.

Inside are the archaeological remains of the Hellenistic quarter of the Greek colony of Rhode. This colony experienced its greatest flourishing in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. It also includes a Roman villa dating from between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AD.

La Ciutadella also houses a museum that presents the history and cultural heritage of Roses from prehistoric times to the more recent past.

The Castrum visigòtic is a fortified early medieval settlement on a strategic hill. The settlement overlooks the former urban area of Rhode-Roses, the bay and the entrance to the harbour.

The Castrum visigòtic was inhabited between the 7th and 8th centuries AD; archaeological remains of houses, storage pits and streets have been preserved. The Dolmen de la Creu d’en Cobertella is considered one of the largest prehistoric monuments in Catalonia.

Cuisine

Suquet de Peix de Roses is described as the city’s traditional and most representative dish. It is available year-round in various restaurants in Roses.

Cooking and wine-tasting workshops are organised at the Aula Gastronòmica - Espai Juli Soler. The Roses tourist office organises guided tours of the Port Pesquer.

To the overarching travel overview: Girona.