Cadaqués, Coastal municipality in Alt Empordà, Spain.
Description
Cadaqués is a coastal municipality on the Cap de Creus peninsula in Alt Empordà, with white houses lining a bay framed by rocky shoreline and olive groves. The church of Santa Maria sits above the narrow lanes while stone steps wind between buildings up to the higher part of the village.
History
The medieval fishing settlement grew from the tenth century around a sheltered harbor and remained isolated by mountains from the inland for centuries. During the twentieth century many painters and writers settled here, drawn by the particular light and remoteness of the coast.
Culture
The name derives from the Catalan "Cap de Quers," meaning rocky headland, and the village retains its whitewashed houses and narrow stone lanes built to shield against strong winds. Fishermen still moor their boats along the waterfront where cafés and workshops face the bay.
Practical
The winding mountain road takes about two hours to drive from Barcelona, while buses run regularly from Figueres. The narrow lanes in the village center are mostly car-free, so parking outside and walking in works best.
Did you know?
Women once carried water in green-glazed clay jugs called "doll," balancing them on their heads as they moved through the steep streets. The strong Tramontana wind can blow for days, shaping both the landscape and the rhythm of daily life in the village.
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Salvador Dalí House Museum
853 m
Far de cap de Creus
4.6 km
Pla de Tudela
4.5 km
Casa Serinyana
178 m
Santa Maria de Cadaqués
176 m
Pení
3 km
Sa Conca
849 m
Castell de Cadaqués
131 m
Castell de Sant Jaume
307 m
Platja de Sa Sabolla
2.1 km
Es Llaner Gros
509 m
Platja Confitera
1.2 km
Platja d'en Ros
930 m
Far de Cala Nans
2.1 km
Platja d'en Ballesta
1.3 km
Sant Baldiri hermitage
643 m
Platja d'en Pere Fet
1 km
Platja Gran
49 m
Platja de Port Alguer
197 m
Platja de s'Alqueria
1.5 km
Casa Rahola
69 m
Platja des Pianc
332 m
El Corral d'en Morell
1.3 km
Paraje de Tudela en el Cabo de Creus
4 km
Platja des Poal
251 m
Platja des Caials
1.5 km
Platja de Sant Lluís
2.3 kmPlatja de l'Illa
1.4 kmReal people, real opinions — but not verified.
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A small Catalan village by the sea. Beautiful, even though it can sometimes be quite crowded depending on the seasons.
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