Located in the northeast of Catalonia we find Girona, a magnificent city that has maintained the charm and heritage of the different cultures through which it has passed during different periods of history. Iberians, Romans, medievals, and Jews left their mark on a Girona that we can enjoy today. But apart from a charming city, Girona is much more, throughout the province there are different landscapes and municipalities that make it one of the best regions for rural tourism in one of the many Girona rural houses.
Costa Brava
The coastal part of Girona is what we call Costa Brava, one of the most visited regions of the country in summer, thanks to the large number of beaches and coves typical of the Mediterranean Sea, with crystal clear water and steep slopes. In this coastal region there are many municipalities that stand out for their charm and that formerly were exclusively dedicated to fishing such as Calella de Palafrugell, Palamós, L'Escala, Cadaqués ... Another of the charms of the Costa Brava is the influence that Salvador had During the years that Dalí lived, in Portlligat, Púbol, and especially in Figueres, you can visit the works of art and learn more about the life of one of the best surrealist artists.
Despite being the part of the coast, it also has a great heritage that can be visited at any time of the year. The coastal path that runs along the entire coast is one of the best options for hiking and visiting both the coastal landscapes and the small towns in the area. Pals, Sant Pere Pescador, the Aiguamolls del Empordà, or the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes are some of the places of interest found in the inland part of the Costa Brava.
Girona's interior
A large part of the province of Girona is inland, that is, the entire territory that we find between the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees. The city of Girona, small towns, forests, meadows, wineries ... are some of the attractions of inland Girona that you cannot miss if you do a rural tourism stay in the area.
The main municipality in the area is Girona, a city full of culture and charm, with an old town full of services, restaurants and shops. In Girona, we must also highlight the restaurant "El Celler de Can Roca", which has been named the best restaurant in the world several times, but if you want to eat you must book a table a year in advance!
Apart from the city of Girona, in the interior of the province we also find many other places of interest to visit or stay. La Garrotxa, or Lake Banyoles are two must-see places. In the lake, you can do many outdoor activities, both aquatic and in the surroundings.
La Garrotxa is one of the regions with the largest offer of rural houses in Catalonia. It is a traditional region that was originally dedicated almost exclusively to agriculture and livestock. The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, the Fageda d'en Jordà, the Vall d'en Bas, or iconic towns such as Castellfollit de la Roca, Beget, or Besalú, are the main attractions of this Catalan region.
Pyrenees
In the northernmost part of Girona are the Pyrenees, the main mountain system in Catalonia and which is divided between the provinces of Lleida and Girona. The Ripollès and Cerdanya regions are the two that belong to the Pyrenees and to Girona. In these regions you can make countless excursions through the mountains and valleys, in addition, there are also towns with a certain charm such as Camprodon, Alp, Puigcerdà, Bellver de Cerdanya, or Queralbs and the Vall de Núria. All these towns have a clear Romanesque style that identifies them and makes up the Romanesque route. In this area we find the largest number of Girona rural houses.
Gastronomy
In the same way that Girona has a great diversity of territory, it also has a very rich gastronomy. Each area has its typical products that are used to make the most traditional elaborations, in the part of the Costa Brava and the Empordà, with a clear marine influence, fish and shellfish are typical, such as anchovies from L'Escala or prawns from Palamós.
The farther inland, the stronger the dishes, for example in the case of Girona city "Xuxo" is typical, a sweet with cream and sugar. In the part of La Garrotxa and the Pyrenees, meat and vegetables take center stage and dishes such as trinxat de la Cerdanya, escudella, or sausages stand out, which you can taste next to the fireplace in a Girona rural house.
Without forgetting the delicious wines that are produced in the Empordà vineyards!