Figueres
Encyclopedia
Figueres is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà
, in the province of Girona
, Catalonia
, Spain
.
The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí
, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí
, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors. It is also the birthplace of Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol
, inventor of the first successful machine-powered submarine
. Also born here was Mónica Naranjo
, one of the best selling Spanish singers of the 1990s and 2000s.
conceded it fuero
rights, but four years later count Ponç IV of Empúries
set the town on fire.
During the Spanish Civil War
it remained loyal to the Republican government, and was repeatedly bombed by the rebels. Figueres recovered starting from the 1950s, consolidating its economy around the tourism industry.
, 140 km from Barcelona
, 60 km from Perpignan
and 50 km from Girona-Costa Brava Airport
. It is also served by its own railway station
just east of the old town center.
Figueres has been connected since December 2010 to the high-speed rail
network with the start of services connecting Figueres to Perpignan via LGV
, allowing direct TGV
services to Paris
. Connections to Madrid-Barcelona via AVE are scheduled to begin service in 2012.
, France
since 1968 Alcalá la Real
, Spain
since 1989 in connection with Pep Ventura, who modernized the sardana
and it subsequently became the traditional dance of Catalonia. He was born there in 1817. Saint Petersburg
, USA since 2011. Craiova
, Romania
protocol of intentions signed in 2009.
Alt Empordà
Alt Empordà is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain, one of two into which Empordà was divided by the comarcal division of Catalonia in 1936.- Municipalities :Populations are as of 2001.*Agullana - pop. 668*Albanyà - pop. 99*L'Armentera - pop. 742...
, in the province of Girona
Girona (province)
Girona is a province of north-eastern Spain, in the northern part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is bordered by the provinces of Barcelona and Lleida, and by France and the Mediterranean Sea....
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí
Dalí Theatre and Museum
The Dalí Theatre and Museum , is a museum of the artist Salvador Dalí in his home town of Figueres, in Catalonia.- History :The heart of the museum was the building that housed the town's theatre when Dalí was a child, and where one of the first public exhibitions of young Dalí's art was shown...
, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors. It is also the birthplace of Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol
Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol
Narcís Monturiol Estarriol was a Spanish Catalan intellectual, artist and engineer. He was the inventor of the first combustion engine-driven submarine, which was propelled by an early form of air-independent propulsion....
, inventor of the first successful machine-powered submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
. Also born here was Mónica Naranjo
Monica Naranjo
Mónica Naranjo Carrasco is a Spanish singer born in Figueras, a village in Spain to Andalusian parents. She has sold over 8 million albums worldwide.- Biography :...
, one of the best selling Spanish singers of the 1990s and 2000s.
History
The town's name derives from that of Ficaris, of Visigoth origins. In 1267 King James I of AragonJames I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
conceded it fuero
Fuero
Fuero , Furs , Foro and Foru is a Spanish legal term and concept.The word comes from Latin forum, an open space used as market, tribunal and meeting place...
rights, but four years later count Ponç IV of Empúries
Ponç Hug IV of Empúries
Ponç V or Ponç Hug IV was the Count of Empúries from 1277 until his death and viscount of Bas from 1285 to 1291. He was the son and successor of Hug V and Sibila de Palau....
set the town on fire.
During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
it remained loyal to the Republican government, and was repeatedly bombed by the rebels. Figueres recovered starting from the 1950s, consolidating its economy around the tourism industry.
Main sights
- Sant Ferran CastleSant Ferran CastleThe Sant Ferran Castle is situated on a hill in Figueres, Catalonia at the end of Pujada del Castell. It is a large military fortress built in the eighteenth century under the orders of several military engineers, including Peter Martin i Cermeño Juan Martin Cermeño...
, built in 1753 during the reign of Ferdinand VI of SpainFerdinand VI of SpainFerdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
. It has a pentagonal plan, with a total perimeter of 5.6 km. - Parish church of St. Peter, in GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
. It has a single nave with side chapels. - Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí (19th century, renovated in the 1960s). It incorporates a tower from the ancient walls.
Transportation
Situated in the north-east corner of Catalonia, Figueres is about 40 km from GironaGirona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
, 140 km from Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, 60 km from Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
and 50 km from Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Girona-Costa Brava Airport is an airport located southwest of the city of Girona, next to the small village of Vilobí d'Onyar, in the north-east of Catalonia, Spain...
. It is also served by its own railway station
Figueres railway station
Figueres is a railway station on the R11 of Media Distancia of Renfe in Catalonia located on the eastern side of the historic Old Town center of Figueres in the Alt Empordà county of the Girona province. In addition to regional lines, the station is also a stopping point for long distance trains...
just east of the old town center.
Figueres has been connected since December 2010 to the high-speed rail
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
network with the start of services connecting Figueres to Perpignan via LGV
LGV Perpignan-Figueres
The LGV Perpignan–Figueres is an international high-speed rail line between France and Spain. The line connects two cities on opposite sides of the border, Perpignan in Roussillon, France, and Figueres in Catalonia, Spain. It consists of a line which crosses the French–Spanish border via the ...
, allowing direct TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
services to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Connections to Madrid-Barcelona via AVE are scheduled to begin service in 2012.
Twin towns
MarignaneMarignane
Marignane is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southern France.-Geography:It is a component of the metropolitan Marseille Provence Métropole, and the largest suburb of the city of Marseille...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
since 1968 Alcalá la Real
Alcalá la Real
Alcalá la Real is a city located in the province of Jaén, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the city has a population of 22,129 inhabitants.-Geography:...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
since 1989 in connection with Pep Ventura, who modernized the sardana
Sardana
The sardana is a type of circle dance typical of Catalonia, Spain. The dance was originally from the Empordà region, but started gaining popularity throughout Catalonia during the 20th century....
and it subsequently became the traditional dance of Catalonia. He was born there in 1817. Saint Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, USA since 2011. Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
protocol of intentions signed in 2009.
External links
- Figueres Council: Figueres Council
- Figueres: overview at Cap Creus online, the Web-newspaper of the Costa Brava
- Virtual tour of Figueres on Virtourist.com
- Business Directory Guide from Figueres
- Interactive map with street finder of Figueres
- Figueres on Wikitravel