Spain – Roses (En)

As I mentioned in my last blog post, we went to see Roses on the motorbike. Roses has an impressive citadel, a lively seafront promenade, and a beach with views of Empuriabrava.

What to see

We parked right at the entrance to the Citadel and went in. To the right of the entrance is a museum, which we didn’t visit because we decided to go straight to the Citadel, which is enormous and impressive. A visit to the Citadel allows you to see the history of Roses from the 4th century BC to the 19th century.

The historical site includes the 16th-century Citadel, the foundational remains of Greek and Roman settlements, the Monastery of Santa Maria de Roses, and various remnants of the Vila Vella (Old Town) and its medieval fortifications. Upon entering, you’ll see the name Roses prominently displayed in the centre. We walked around the Citadel, passing first through the Renaissance fortifications dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, before arriving at the Monastery of St. Mary, founded in the 10th century. The Romanesque church was built in the first half of the 11th century, with its cloister and outbuildings protected by a wall.

We climbed the city walls, which offer incredible views of the entire historic complex. Once at the top, we noticed a street market outside the citadel.

We left the citadel and went to the beach for a walk along the promenade.

Opposite the promenade is a square with bars where the town hall is located.

And we walked back along the beach, where there are some really cute bars to have a few drinks.

Our next destination is Llançà, 20 minutes from France, where you will find dolmens and pre-Romanesque architecture as well as beautiful beaches and coves, which you will discover in the next blog.