Figueres

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
Location in Alt Empordà county
Location in Alt Empordà county
Figueres is located in Catalonia
Figueres
Figueres
Figueres is located in Spain
Figueres
Figueres
Coordinates: 42°16′00″N 2°57′54″E / 42.26667°N 2.96500°E / 42.26667; 2.96500
Sovereign state Spain
Community Catalonia
RegionGirona
CountyAlt Empordà
ProvinceGirona
Government
 • MayorJordi Masquef Creus (2023) (JxC)[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)
Demonym(s)figuerenc, -enca
(pl. figuerencs, -enques)
ClimateCsa
Websitefigueres.cat

Figueres (Catalan: [fiˈɣeɾəs] ⓘ; Spanish: Figueras [fiˈɣeɾas] ⓘ) is the capital city of Alt Empordà county, in the Girona region, Catalonia, Spain.

The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Dalí Theatre and Museum, 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

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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.

Figueres was once home to a Jewish community prior to the expulsion of the Jews in 1492, and a small Jewish quarter remains.[8]

Main sights

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  • 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

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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).[9]

Economy

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The Gondán Shipyard in Figueres is a large shipyard that carries out ship construction and repair.[10] It has been in operation since 1969.[10] Among other vessel types, the ship produces large wind farm service vessels and in recent years has also built electric ferries.[11][12]

Notable people

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Twin towns – sister cities

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

Figueres is twinned with:[14]

References

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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. ^ a b  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. ^ "FIGUERES". Catalunya Bus Turistic. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b "Astilleros Gondan and Euroresinst". EuroResin. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Gondan launches wind service vessel to Edda". Offshore Mag. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Ten 100% Electric Ferries Ordered for Lisbon". Ferry Shipping News. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Manuela Trasobares, la discípula de Dalí que se convirtió en la primera soprano trans en actuar en La Scala de Milán o el Liceu" [Manuela Trasobares, Dalí's disciple who became the first trans soprano to perform at La Scala in Milan or the Liceu] (in Spanish). 2022-12-03.
  14. ^ "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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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Figueres.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Figueres.
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