Gola del Ter beach, in Torroella de Montgrí, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

The area is located south of the Basses d’en Coll, near Pals beach, on the south bank of the Daró river, that in facts marks the beginning of this long beach, about 5 km long, up to the end of another river, the Ter, along a protected nature reserve. From there, another 5 kms to the north, the beach arrives to l’Estartit.

Natural gaps on Ter river mouth, just in front of Medes Islands

You can arrive to this area through a road about 4 kms that starts in Torroella de Montgrí, for example right under the bridge across the Ter, coming from Pals. It’s a track that can be traveled by car, although if you cycle or walk you’ll enjoy much more what it offers. This road offers the chance to enjoy the end of the river, the quietest part of it, the characteristic vegetation, the typical local crops such as rice or fruit, etc.

Catalan farm among rice fields, near the Ter river mouth

Finally, as we approach the sea, we will see how the river begins to form gaps in the beach sand, mingling with it. Here nature has created a curious mixture of fresh and salt water. The name of the beach from a little mound, Fonollera, located just a few hundred meters inland, where some experts believe in the presence of a prehistoric settlement called Cypsela, and probably witnessed by ancient travelers. However, we still have no real proof of its existence.

Exact point where Ter river ends, forming gaps and a very interesting landscape

On the beach, the nearby presence of the Medes Islands is majestic. Around the area, only a few farmhouses, typical Catalan houses, and most from the XIXth century, are the only evidence of human presence. We are in a rich area of dunes and the associated vegetation: the reeds. It is important to respect this plants as they are part of the fragile ecological balance that forms this area.

Gola del Ter, just in front Medes Islands, is a beautiful protected zona, with a delicate ecosystem, extremely beautiful

Torroella de Montgrí Castle

It was built between 1294 and 1304 by King James II on the mountain of the same name. It was built by the County of Barcelona as a back court against Empúries County, led by the Earl of Ponce. However, the interiors of the building were not completed due to the Barcelona County final rule on Empúries. Externally the castle preserves a finished look.

Way up to the Montgrí Castle, from Torroella de Montgrí village

The walls are 13 meters high, and the style of fortification is on the same style imported from the East after the First Cross war, with a square perimeter of 31 meters, four cylindrical towers at the corners (accessible to visitors), moat and a cistern.

Cova del Duc cave offers impressive views over the sea

In 1988 it was undertaken an ambitious restoration project that returned the splendor of the castle, which can be visited free by those who are able to walk through the Montgrí Mountains on the peek, starting from Torroella village (about 1 hour). In the same way, it’s also very interesting to visit the Cross of Santa Caterina (a waypoint), the Chapel of Santa Caterina and the Cueva del Duc (Cau del Duc Cave), a natural cave which was inhabited by humans in ancient times and that offers wonderful views of the south coast.