Figueres

Figueres (Catalan for 'fig trees', Catalan pronunciation: [fiˈɣeɾəs], [fiˈɣeɾes]; Spanish: Figueras, [fiˈɣeɾas]) is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

For other uses, see Figueres (disambiguation).
Figueres
Municipality
St. Peter's church
St. Peter's church
Flag of Figueres
Flag
Coat of arms of Figueres
Coat of arms
Figueres is located in Province of Girona
Figueres
Figueres
Location in Catalonia
Figueres is located in Catalonia
Figueres
Figueres
Figueres (Catalonia)
Figueres is located in Spain
Figueres
Figueres
Figueres (Spain)
Coordinates: 42°16′00″N 2°57′54″E
Country Spain
Community Catalonia
ProvinceGirona
ComarcaAlt Empordà
Government
 • MayorJordi Masquef Creus (2018)[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total19.3 km2 (7.5 sq mi)
Elevation
39 m (128 ft)
Population
 (2018)[3]
 • Total46,381
 • Density2,400/km2 (6,200/sq mi)
DemonymFiguerenques
ClimateCsa
Websitefigueres.cat

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, 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.

History

The town's name derives from that of Ficaris, of Visigoth origin. In 1267, King James I of Aragon conceded it fuero rights, but four years later Count Ponç IV of Empúries set the town on fire.

In 1794 Figueras was surrendered to France, but it was regained in 1795. During the Peninsular War it was taken by the French in 1808, recaptured by the Spaniards in 1811, and retaken by the French in the same year.[4]

During the Spanish Civil War, it remained loyal to the Republican government, and was repeatedly bombed by the Nazi and Fascist Italian aviation.[5]

It was one of the most heavily bombed Catalan cities during the Civil War, in 1938, and, especially, at the beginning of 1939, when thousands of people passed through the town on their way into exile. The number of bombing victims cannot be known with certainty, but could be close to 400.[6]

Spain's Republican government held its final meeting of the civil war (on 1 February 1939) in the dungeons of its Sant Ferran Castle.[7]

Figueres recovered starting from the 1950s, consolidating its economy around the tourism industry.

Main sights


  • Sant Ferran Castle
    Sant Ferran Castle
  • Dalí theatre and museum
    Dalí theatre and museum
A surrealist tribute to Salvador Dalí at the base of the Rambla, Figueres

Transport

Situated in the northeast corner of Catalonia, Figueres is about 40 km (25 miles) from Girona, 140 km (87 miles) from Barcelona, 60 km (37 miles) from Perpignan, and 50 km (31 miles) 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 in 5 h 27 min. Connections to Madrid-Barcelona via AVE began on 8 January 2013 and the trip takes 53 min to Barcelona Sants (12 min to Girona).[8]

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain

Figueres is twinned with:[9]

References
References
  1. "Ajuntament de Figueres". Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. "El municipi en xifres: Figueres". Statistical Institute of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  3. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  4. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Figueras". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 334.
  5. "Figueres, la Gernika de Catalunya". Publico (in Spanish). 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  6. "ICIP participates in the historical memory project "(silences) Figueres under the bombs". International Catalan Institute for Peace. Generalitat de Catalunya". International Catalan Institute for Peace. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  7. "Castell de Sant Ferran | Figueres, Spain Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  8. Kallas, Siim (8 January 2013). "The European commission welcomes the entry into service of the high speed line between Barcelona and Figueres – last stage of Spain-Europe high-speed connection". European Commission. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  9. "Ciutats agermanades". figueres.cat (in Catalan). Figueres. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
Literature
  • Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).
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