Empuriabrava – largest marine settlement in the world
Empuriabrava – waterfront living
Everyone imagines something different under Atlantis. But there really was this sunken place with the many channels… and if so, where was it??? Numerous myths are entwined around this topic. Atlantis is said to have been very rich, then suddenly it sank into the depths of the sea. Elsewhere and contemporary history, it seems to have reappeared and is hiding under the name Empuriabrava… This is how the story could begin if you want to write a modern fairy tale. But: “Ghosts differ at Empuriabrava.”
Empuriabrava at a glance
- Name: Empuriabrava (formerly Ampuriabrava), also called “the Spanish Venice”.
- Origin: In 1967, the building permit was granted on pasture and farmland with only five lonely farmsteads. Soon the first canals were dug and the first holiday villas were built
- Channels: A grid-shaped network of up to 30 kilometers of canals, many villas have their own jetty
- marina: Around 5,000 moorings, the place is called the largest marina in the world
- Airfield: Empuriabrava has its own airfield
- Excursion tips: Butterfly Park and the canal trip in the electric boat (Report)
The charm of the city by the water – Empuriabrava
Either you love it or you hate it. There is hardly anything in between,” says a website. Maybe that’s right at first sight. But opinions can also change when you look at it secondly. Full and loud, meanwhile our attitude has changed.
The white ornate houses between lush Mediterranean vegetation and the many palm trees on the canals give a picturesque picture, especially when the Tramuntana has blown the air in, and against the background of the blue mountains the flowers of the Oleander and Bougainvillea shine. In summer, up to 80,000 people fill beach, streets and canals. In winter there are officially significantly less.
If you’ve been here for a few years, you’re almost looking forward to the hustle and bustle of the summer, after all you have the region to yourself most of the year. Empuriabrava turns out to be full in the early and late season. The place has meanwhile grown to a considerable size, has over 5,000 ship berths, making it the largest marine settlement in the world.
You can hardly get houses on the wide canal for less than one million euros. For luxury properties, you also have to reckon with several million. Nowadays, famous doctors, politicians, actors and other personalities of international public life live in Empuriabrava.
Empuriabrava on the rice board
Empuriabrava was founded in 1967. The 600 hectares that today occupy Empuriabrava were formerly arable and pasture land. A part consisted of small plots. Most of the area, however, was divided into five farms. Four of them (Mas Llebrer, Modaguer, Mas Moxó and Cortal Vell) belonged to the Margrave of Sant Mori – Antonio de Moxó i Güell.
From 1956 on the Catalan coast, many initiatives to build new holiday settlements were built.
At the end of 1964, the company Eurobrava S.A. the municipality of Castelló d’Empúries has a partial spatial planning plan. The submitted plan envisaged building the area between the Muga River, Les Salins and the road from Figueres to Roses. Working title of the project: “Eurobrava de la Muga”. This resulted in the name Ampuriabrava, which is now called Catalan Empuriabrava.
The inventors and builders of Empuriabrava had ambitious plans and saw their great role model in Fort Lauderdale (Miami) in Florida. From there they copied the idea of being able to sail directly into the sea from their own house.
Empuriabrava is a residence planned on the drawing board and built in an open field, which has become a popular tourist town over time.
In June 1967, the first partial development plan for Empuriabrava was adopted. In 1968, with the realization of the demanding construction plans, a small-Venice-style urbanization began on the grounds of a drained swamp area. Empuriabrava is surrounded on the one hand by the Muga and Rio Salins rivers, and on the other hand it borders on nature reserves and sea.
Slogan “The Sea on your doorstep”
The company Ampuriabrava S.A. As the successor to the Eurobrava S.A. Under the chairmanship of the Margrave of Sant Mori, the international marketing of the Marina’s new building project took over. Advertising slogan back then: “The sea on your doorstep”.
The campaign attracted attention throughout Europe, but especially in Germany. The originality of Empuriabrava lies in the structure of the development: typical of the cityscape is the lattice-shaped network of navigable canals, which stretches over a total of over 30 kilometers through the whole city.
Most houses have private access to the water. Initially, plots of land in Ampuriabrava were affordable. Those who invested on the luck of the time were well advised. Over time, the Marina has developed internationally into an absolute insider tip. You can dock right on your doorstep by boat. This luxury is now paid dearly. In addition to tourism, the real estate sector is now one of the main economic sectors in the region.
The largest and most modern marina on the Mediterranean Sea
According to the advertising brochure, the urbanization is still the largest and most modern marina on the Mediterranean. It is framed by the fantastic panorama of the Pyrenees near the French border in the Bay of Roses. With the two-kilometre-long sandy beaches and the many navigable canals and the marina, Empuriabrava is still an Eldorado for water sports enthusiasts and boat lovers. The beautiful villas and paradisiacal gardens along the canals today correspond completely to the dream of living in the south. Numerous restaurants, boutiques, cafés and bars invite you to stroll around.
mooring your yacht directly in front of your own villa
The many canals are still the main arteries of this marina once drawn on the rice board. The total length of the navigable canals in Empuriabrava is more than 30 km. Miami only comes to a mere 15.
In Empuriabrava, many residents can dock right on their doorstep and have their boat ready to go at any time – be it for an evening trip to the next bay for swimming or even for a short trip to Mallorca for shopping and partying.
Today there is a sailing or motor yacht almost in front of every villa or fisherman’s house.
This is how you can start with your yacht to visit the restaurant: e.g., the Noray restaurant has Hotel Port Salins Over 6 jetties alone. Two of them are suitable for yachts up to 20 meters in length. If you don’t want to go ashore, you can also have it served on deck. What a luxury!
Empuriabrava – the water sports paradise
Empuriabrava is the water sports paradise par excellence. The range of nautical sports is endless. If you don’t have your own boat, you can of course rent one! for example at Aventura Nautica. But even without a boat license, you can sail through the canals with small electric boats. Things are getting more sporty when fishing offshore. With a bit of luck, a delicious dinner is secured after an early morning tour. You can also kite, surf, dive and swim right outside the front door on the long, wide sandy beach in the Bay of Roses.
Stroll, walk, shop and nightlife
Parallel to the residential domiciles, of course, business and leisure facilities were also built. The Montserrat supermarket with restaurant was one of the first facilities to open its doors. The couple Josep Bellot and Montserrat Vidal saw their future in Empuriabrava. The beginning was not easy, but soon “Montserrat” established itself as a permanent brand with many branches.
Empuriabrava shopping area is located on the wide arcaded Boulevard Carles Fages de Climent. Here you will find boutiques, shoe shops, surf shops, real estate agencies and cafés.
Strolling and walking is also popular. A mole leads out into the sea at the port entrance. The Club Nautic with its characteristic tower is considered a kind of landmark of the place. The promenade runs on the beach. Here you will also find the café on the beach as well as restaurants and bars. 300 meters from the beach is the central shopping street with various shops, restaurants and dance halls. Thanks to the many international restaurants, bakeries and butchers, many holidaymakers and residents can feel at home.
nightlife
Of course, a nightlife also developed quickly. The first nightclub was inaugurated as early as 1969. Night bars were created and other discotheques invited to the party. Today there are different party locations. In the evening, the bear taps in all bars, pubs and discotheques in summer. The night dances in the morning, and some people sleep by the sea.
Leisure activities
In Empuriabrava you can practice any type of water sports, and there is no shortage of other leisure activities such as skydiving, ultra-light flying, horseback riding, playing tennis, cycling and much more. The wide sandy beaches invite you to relax. As early as 1968, events and sports events were organized in Empuriabrava, which were also used as an image bearer for the marina. Today, among other things, the parachute jumper center Skydive Empuriabrava for international reputation.
A skimpool and a flowrider have just been opened in Empuriabrava. The “Flowrider” is a large pool with a powerful wave generator. Here you have the chance to try surfing in the simulator. The “Skimpool” offers the opportunity to familiarize yourself with “skimboarding” – a crossing between skateboarding and surfing. “Skimboarding” came into fashion in California almost 70 years ago and is practiced worldwide today. or the new electric Lift Efoil.
Living on the water – the villa on the canal
Water in every form has fascinated people since ancient times. The dream of living by the water can be perfectly realized in Empuriabrava.
We captured with the camera how differently each resident lives this dream in his own way in the largest marina in the world – Empuriabrava. The arch here stretches from the villa on the main canal, immersed in Mediterranean white with a roof terrace that combines a mixture of Arabic and Roman elements, to the small fisherman’s house in the old style. Recently, modern villas with clear architectural lines have also been created.
Boat trip through the canals and
If you are still undecided on which wonderful place you would choose for the water, or if your own holiday home is still too far away, just let yourself be enchanted on a boat trip through the canals of Empuriabrava and dream of idyllic refuges on the water. After all, you can build inexpensive airlocks in unlimited numbers.
Appointment with the real estate agent
If you don’t think much of castles in the air and are good at cash, you can of course make an appointment with the real estate agents Arrange on site and thus come a step closer to the realization of your dreams. Exclusive offers from Real Estate in Empuriabrava You can find it at Selected Property Real Estate. With market knowledge and competence, Johannes Liebscher and his team have been advising customers from all over the world for many years.
Bargain offers in the Marina Empuriabrava have unfortunately become rarer in recent years. Despite the crisis, the demand for luxury houses on the canal is great. Once you’ve discovered and realized your dream of life by the water, you don’t want to miss this luxury and don’t sell on that quickly. In Empuriabrava, investments in real estate have of course always been “sea value” coupled with a lot of quality of life!
It is worth taking a boat tour across Empuriabrava to discover the unique concept and charm of the marina itself.
Frequently asked questions about Empuriabrava
Why is Empuriabrava called the Spanish Venice?
From the air, a grid of up to 30 kilometers of canals can be seen. Many villas are right on the water and have their own jetty.
When was Empuriabrava built?
In 1967 permission was granted to start construction. In front of it was pasture and farmland with only five lonely farmsteads.
How many berths does the marina have?
Empuriabrava has around 5,000 berths and its own airfield.
Can you explore the canals by boat?
yes in our report for canal trip we rented a small electric boat and experienced the city from the water.
More on this: Butterfly Park Empuriabrava and the Canal trip in the electric boat, Butterfly Park Empuriabrava, Empuriabrava – new coast law, Empuriabrava – Living Living.
