English
Far from the hustle, crowds, contamination and wild urbanism are these beaches that make up the Cap de Creus (Creus Head), not far from Barcelona. They´re a succession of secluded beaches, almost inaccessible, with a clean and crystal-clear sea, wild nature with its many pines and low hills, towns that still preserve the lifestyle of previous decades… all of that and more you can find at the Cap de Creus. Here, time goes slowly, man coexists in harmony with natural spaces, bands of migratory birds go from north to south and from south to north, the bottom of the sea is paradise for snorkelers and divers… oh! and the beaches… the beaches of the Cap de Creus are made up of fine sand, at the bottom of mountains (actually, we´re at the eastern tip of the Pyrenees), the aroma of marjoram and thyme mixes with wild flowers and the transparent sea water allows us to see the small fish that venture close to the shore in search of sea weed.
“A place created for the gods” said Salvador Dalí, the illustrious summer visitor of these coasts, around about the 1920s, when the avant-gardes shook old Spain. This was a place that he came to right until his death. You only have to remember that in one of these towns, Cadaqués, Dalí lived with his partner, Gala. A few steps from the sea, inside towards land, there´s Púbol Castle, a unique witness of the peculiar art of this surrealist genius. The castle is “a delight to feel the passing of time, drop by drop” according to the words of another local writer, Josep Pla. The fact is that these different beaches (cales in Catalan) that end in this small peninsula, in the northeast tip of Spain, are a joy to behold for the traveller´s senses who is looking for the most sublime locations on the planet. From Bol Nou to Roses, the natural landscape shows old country houses (masies) surrounded by fields of wheat with only a few poppies giving some colour to the golden landscape. Medieval towns hold the hand of locations recovered by art. Winding roads flanked by pine trees give way to silent cales hidden to the eyes of the outsider.
Fans of diving, fishing or sailing can also come here and do boat activities. There are specialized companies that organize these type of activities. If you decide to do this, don´t miss out on a trip to the Illes Medes, small islands that are paradise on Earth, unoccupied by man and a protected natural park, a rocky refuge of birds and fish. There, among the sound of the waves and the crashing wind, you´ll feel like the old sailers who sailed around a Mediterranean Sea that was still unknown.
The ´cales´ of the Cap de Creus are a short distance from the Catalan capital. If you have a vehicle, the best option is to drive to one of these towns and have your apartments in Barcelona as your headquarters, since the accommodation offer in the area is quite reduced. Go to Port de la Selva, Llançà or Pau.
