Roses Gulf

The Gulf of Roses (Spanish: "Golfo de Rosas", Catalan: "Golf de Roses") is the most north eastern bay on the Spanish coast.

The Bay is 16 km wide and is formed by the valley of the El Fluvià but also contains the esturies of the Manol and La Muga. These rivers drain the southern flanks of the eastern end of the Pyrenees and Alberes. The area is often effected by the severe Tramuntana wind.

The bay contains the resorts of Roses, Castelló d'Empúries/Empúriabrava, Sant Pere Pescador, Empúries and L'Escala.

The bay was originally settled by the Greeks who created a trading post at Empúries which became a Roman town before being abandoned after Viking and Muslim pirate raids along the coast. The area was the domain of the Count of Empúries.

The area was malarial swamp for much of the middle ages. Irrigation schemes lead to much of the former marshland becoming farmland. Tourism caused further encrouchment in particular the 1960's resort of Empúriabrava which includes canals and morings for detached villas. An important wintering spot for travelling birds the marsh has now been designated the Parc Natural Aiguamols de L'Empordà. To the north overlooking the Bay lies the Parc Natural de Cap de Creus.

The bay is also home to the famous Spanish restaurant El Bulli.