Baix Empordà is on the
Costa Brava. The Montgrí massif, in
the northern sector, rises above the plain, which
is watered by the lower reaches of the Ter and the
Daró (with waterlands
near the coast). The Gavarres range, between Baix
Empordà and La Selva, rises in the southern
sector, which includes the Vall d’Aro. A craggy
coastline (L'Estartit, the Medes islands), the broad
beach of Pals, a stretch of coast with the Begur
massif (Cap-sa-sal, Aiguablava), the beaches of
Palafrugell (Tamariu, Llafranc, Calella), the port
of Palamós, Platja d'Aro, S'Agaró,
Sant Feliu de Guíxols. With Alt Empordà
it makes up the natural region of Empordà,
one of most ancient historic areas of Catalonia,
which corresponds approximately to the mediaeval county
of Empúries. Since the end of the 19th century,
agriculture and the sea (fishing, coastal shipping,
coral) have been complemented by an important cork
industry in the towns along the coast (Palamós,
Palafrugell, Sant Feliu de Guíxols). La Bisbal
has been a notable ceramics manufacturing centre,
both craft and industrial. But tourism and second
homes have played a decisive role in recent decades
and there is an extensive tourist infrastructure.
