Cala Montjoi, Shingle beach in Roses, Spain
Cala Montjoi is a shingle beach near Roses on the Costa Brava, around 280 meters long and 30 meters wide, made of dark sand mixed with pebbles. It sits inside a sheltered bay surrounded by rocky hillsides and pine trees that screen it from the coastal road.
The bay was for centuries a remote anchorage used by local fishermen who took shelter along this stretch of coast. The area gained worldwide attention when the nearby El Bulli restaurant, which had been operating since the 1960s, rose to become the most talked-about dining destination on the planet under chef Ferran Adrià.
Cala Montjoi sits inside a small bay surrounded by a holiday village where visitors tend to slow down and spend long hours by the water. The nearness of the Cap de Creus natural park gives the place a feeling of separation from busier coastal spots.
The beach is reached by a winding road through the natural park, so arriving early in the day helps to find parking without difficulty. On site there are showers, restrooms, and a diving center that rents equipment and runs courses for different levels of experience.
The building that housed El Bulli still stands at the edge of the bay and has been turned into a foundation that occasionally opens for cultural events. Visitors who drive down to the beach pass right by it without always realizing what it is.
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