Car Hire Figueres - Mini guide to Figueres

Figueres, nestled between the eastern end of the Pyrenees and the Costa Brava, is best known as the birthplace of the master of the surrealist art movement, Salvador Dali.

The list of major attractions in town is almost certainly topped by the Dali Theatre-Museum, an artistic exhibition – or more aptly, experience - housed within the town’s old municipal theatre. There are also a number of important monuments worth visiting, including the old medieval walls and the castle of Sant Ferran, a massive 18th century fortress on the outskirts of town.

The walls date back to the Middle Ages, when they were originally constructed for defensive purposes. They enclose the historical centre of Figueres, where some lovely corners such as the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the area around Carrer Magre have been preserved from medieval times.

The true heart of the city, and the best area for exploring on foot, is La Rambla, where a variety of notable Modernist and Neoclassical buildings are concentrated. Also situated here is the Church of Sant Pere, a 14th century Gothic structure with additional elements from the 18th century.

La Rambla is the best place for eating and socialising, as there is a good variety of cafés and bars to choose from. For the active traveller, Figueres has several golf courses, and there are also scenic hiking trails located nearby.

The Costa Brava area offers a range of exciting excursions, and Figueres is an excellent home base from which to explore these. Travellers can soak up the sun on excellent beaches in coastal towns such as Colera, while culture vultures might prefer the town of Port de la Selva, with its Romanesque monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes.

South of Cap de Creus is Roses, where the ruins of the Greek colony of Rhodes endure. Nearby is the Aiguamolls de l’Empordi Natural Park, an important environmental reserve and haven for water birds.

You can reach Figueres by road from France or Girona via the Autopista del Mediterráneo. There are many fast trains and buses between Figueres and Barcelona daily. Figueres is served by Barcelona Airport, which receives both internal and international flights.