Castell d'Emporda
Near La Bisbal d'Emporda, Catalonia, Spain
Remodelled medieval castle with contemporary flair, a divine roof terrace, stunning pool and great central Catalonian location
You have to be either mad or divinely inspired to stumble upon a
ruined medieval castle crawling with feral cats, left untouched for
80 years, and want to buy it and turn it into a luxury hotel. But
that's what Dutch couple Albert Diks and Margo Vereijken did, and
the result is Castell d’Empordà. It is an inspiring
feat of genius, a former crusader's castle that was owned by one of
Colombus' captains, and it now has 38 luxurious rooms,
spacious herb-filled gardens, a divine 17th-century chapel and one
of the finest views in the area.
It's close enough to Girona to make it accessible for a weekend
break, and once you visit this part of the Costa Brava, you'll want
to come back for longer to go cycling and walking around medieval
villages, restaurant-hopping and relaxing on the quiet beaches. But
the crowning glory is the hotel's eccentric Napoleon room, with a
re-enactment of Waterloo played out by painted lead figurines, that
took Albert 20 years to compose. Mad or inspired? We don't care
either way, we just don't want to leave.
Reviewed by Laura Dixon
Last updated 17 May 2012
Highs
- A stunning location, nestled in a quiet village between the Pyrenees and the Costa Brava, within easy day-tripping distance of beautiful beaches, Girona and the Dalí Triangle
- Rooms are lovely; choose a Castle Room for vaulted ceilings, window seats, exposed stone walls and a bath with a view
- The heated pool - big enough to swim seriously in, with plenty of loungers
- Excellent food in the Mediterranean restaurant: simple tapas, elaborate starters and rich mains
- The view across the just-tilled fields, acres of flower-filled gardens and the chapel is relaxation itself
Lows
- You'll need a car to get here and explore the area
- The access down to the new block of Garden Suites and Rooms isn't easy or beautiful
- Caters to an older crowd (nightlife lovers or cocktail quaffers may need to brush up on some history before visiting)
- A couple of rowdy kids could kill the atmosphere around the pool
- We've heard mixed things about the service, but we found it good
