Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Castell d'Emporda, La Bisbal d'Emporda
Facts in brief
Official star rating 4
Location The hotel is outside the small town of La Bisbal Emporda, a few miles away from the Costa Brava
Annual opening 23 March to 4 November
Closest airport Girona Airport
Distance from airport The hotel is about 45-minutes' drive from Girona Airport
Closest railway station Girona Train Station
Distance from railway station The hotel is about 40-minutes' drive from Girona Train Station
Hotel facilities and services
2 Heated Swimming Pools, 2 Restaurants, Bar, Garden, Sun Terrace.
Out and about nearby
The mediaeval village of La Bisbal d'Emporda and the beaches of the Costa Brava. Girona is a 40-minute drive away, with its beautiful old town and eclectic architecture.
Sports nearby
Walking, Hiking, Water Sports on the coast.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Tower room for 7 nights
From about
£1,240 low season
£1,470 high season
Holiday Code EXH1629
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Castell d'Emporda, La Bisbal d'Emporda
Castell d'Empordà is a four-star luxury hotel in the heart of the Catalan countryside, surrounded by an exquisite expanse of patchwork fields just outside the quaint village of La Bisbal d'Empordà. In this rural setting, the hotel is a commanding sight; within 12 hectares of land filled with olive and oak trees, the original castle has stood here since the 12th to 13th century. The grounds of Castell d'Empordà are wonderfully landscaped, with the pinnacle being the age-old tower which casts into shade a large dining terrace. From here you can survey panoramic views, while the glorious outdoor swimming pool adjacent is similarly leisurely spot for reclining and taking in the countryside before you. The original charm of the castle remains untouched, though the site has seen significant development by its Dutch owners, whose labour of love it has been to transform the property into a luxurious holiday destination. In this renovation work, Castell d'Empordà has been revived with modern touches, and two new wings have been added to the site to offer more contemporary accommodation. Sitting harmoniously alongside the castle, these structures are built discreetly into the hillside, lying below the two extended terraces - one holding the swimming pool, the other an ornamental garden. The 38 guestrooms of Castell d'Empordà are therefore split between old and new structures to offer a variety of settings and room types. In the castle there are eight rooms and one unique tower suite, while the modern wing holds eight suites and 18 rooms, all with private balconies overlooking the gardens and the beautiful countryside. The dining experience at Castell d'Empordà is central to the service, with Drac Restaurant providing several menus of either gourmet cuisine or more casual meals throughout the day. The restaurant is open to the public, with Chef Mariano Citterio drawing ingredients fresh from the region and preparing them using slow cooking principles. With the restaurant's open kitchen, guests will enjoy seeing the kitchen staff at work. Warm and welcoming, the Castell d'Empordà experience is one of luxury and natural beauty within the Catalonian countryside - perfect for exploring Spain's east coast.
Room descriptions
Castell d'Emporda has 38 guestrooms, some within the castle and tower and others in a newer building with with balconies overlooking the countryside.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Tower room for 7 nights
From about
£1,240 low season
£1,470 high season
Holiday Code EXH1629
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Castell d'Emporda, La Bisbal d'Emporda
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to the Castell d'Emporda, near Girona, Expressions Holidays includes scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Barcelona. Flights may be available from other UK airports with Easyjet, Jet2 and TUI for example. If you are combining this hotel with stays elsewhere, you may want to consider flying into one airport and out of another. We can arrange this for you. The hotel is about 1 hour and 55 minutes’ drive from Barcelona airport and we recommend that we book for you either a private car transfer or a hire-car, depending on the itinerary.
Additional information
Minimum stays: Minimum stay of 3 nights during July and August. Minimum stay of 2 nights during May, June and September.
Children: A maximum of one additional person can occupy Garden Suites and Garden and Castle Rooms. Tower Rooms cannot accommodate an extra bed.
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Tower room for 7 nights
From about
£1,240 low season
£1,470 high season
Holiday Code EXH1629
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Castell d'Emporda, La Bisbal d'Emporda
About Catalonia and Eastern Spain
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to eastern Spain feature some of the best four and five star hotels in Catalonia and Valencia, including luxury beach resorts on the Costa Brava, mountain retreats in the Catalan Pyrenees and city hotels in Barcelona and Valencia. Eastern Spain is a diverse area with buzzing cities and mediaeval towns, rugged coastline and sandy beaches, soaring mountains and lush river deltas. There is a great wealth of historical and cultural sights throughout Catalonia and the Valencian community, both within the main cities and hidden away in the countryside. Although Barcelona is the main draw for visitors to eastern Spain, the rest of the region is well worth visiting and offers tremendous diversity. During a holiday in eastern Spain, visitors can trek or partake in mountain sports, relax on the beach and visit historic towns and cities all within the space of a few days. Catalonia itself is a unique region which provided inspiration for a number of famous artists such as Dali and Picasso, and retains a strong regional identity which is evident in its language, distinctive cuisine and lively local festivals. In the north is Catalonia, whose capital is the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Barcelona. With unique architecture and a rich culture, gourmet restaurants and lively bars, golden beaches and tranquil parks, it is not surprising that Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Europe. Away from the city there is an abundance of cultural and historical attractions as well as areas of stunning natural beauty. The entire region retains a strong regional identity, with its own commonly used language, distinctive cuisine and lively local festivals. Towns and cities including Girona, Tarragona, Vic and Lleida are home to a variety of highlights including mediaeval castles, cobbled old towns, ancient Roman ruins and modernist architecture. Stretching north towards the French border are the pretty coves, jagged cliffs and golden beaches of the Costa Brava, where you can still find wild and untouched stretches of coastline in between busy coastal towns. Meanwhile, inland are the snow-capped Pyrenees, a towering mountain range which forms the border with France and is dotted with remove villages, an ideal setting for trekking and partaking in mountain sports. Past the vineyards and rice fields of southern Catalonia is the Valencian Community, whose capital is Spain's third-largest city. Valencia has reinvented itself in recent years with futuristic architecture and a sophisticated port area which contrast with the historic buildings of the atmospheric old town. Further south are the sprawling beach resorts of the Costa Blanca, but if you head away from the Valencian coastline you will find craggy mountains, peaceful nature reserves, colourful citrus groves, traditional villages and ancient fortresses.
Highlights of Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Barcelona's Gothic quarter, a maze of narrow streets and plazas which is home to historic buildings including La Seu Cathedral. Modernist architecture throughout the region, particularly in Barcelona where Gaudí designed works including the Sagrada Familia church and Park Guell. Green spaces within Barcelona such as Montjuic, a fortress-topped hill, and Parc de la Ciutatella, a popular park with a zoo and several museums. The City of Arts and Sciences and the Fine Arts Museum in Valencia. Historic monuments within Valencia including a 15th century silk exchange and a Cathedral, home to a Holy Chalice which is said to be the Holy Grail. The Monastery of Montserrat, a religious complex in a spectacular setting atop craggy mountains with chapels, hermits' caves and numerous nature trails. Wineries in towns such as Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and Vilafranca del Penedès. Tarragona, a port city with fascinating Roman remains. The ancient walled city of Girona. Vic, a quintessentially Catalan town with an outstanding market. Cardona, a picturesque town with an impressive fortress. The renowned Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Charming towns along the Costa Brava such as Cadaques, as well as those further inland such as the colourful town of Begur. Pretty villages in the Pyrenees, where visitors can also hike and partake in mountain activities. Wildlife in the wetlands of the Albufera Natural Park.
Festivals in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
March: Las Fallas festival of fire (Valencia), 23 April: Celebration of Catalonia's patron saint, April: Barcelona April Fair, May: Girona flower fair, 23 June: Midsummer's Eve Festival, July: Valencia July Fair, July/August: Begur Music Festival, August: La Tomatina tomato throwing festival (Buñol), 11 September: National day of Catalonia, September: Celebration of Barcelona's patron saint, September/October: Human tower festivals (near Tarragona).
Gastronomy in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Cuisine in eastern Spain takes inspiration from both nearby France and from central Spain whilst making use of local ingredients available including seafood, fresh vegetables, meat and game. Paella, the rice dish which is known the world over originated in Valencia. Barcelona is home to some of Spain's best restaurants, with gastronomic chefs creating innovative cuisine and over 20 boasting at least one Michelin star. Typical dishes include unusual ‘sea and mountain' combinations which use both meat and seafood, ‘Pa amb tomàquet' (bread with tomato, oil and garlic), ‘Fideuá' (a variant of Paella with pasta), ‘Zarzuela' (a seafood stew), ‘Escudella’ (a stew containing vegetables, meat, rice and pasta) and ‘Crema Catalana' (a Catalan version of a Crème Brûlée).
Climate in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Eastern Spain enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, although mountainous areas are somewhat cooler. Late spring and early autumn are great times to visit coastal areas as the weather is warm with temperatures of around 20 degrees centigrade, although some rainfall can be expected. Summer in the cities can be unbearably hot, but the coastline is cooled by sea breezes. Winter is generally mild with occasional rain and average temperatures of 10 degrees, whilst temperatures regularly drop below freezing in the Pyrenees and snow often falls.
