Alt Empordà is one of the three counties into which Empordà was divided in the regional division of 1936, in the Gironine Counties. It has the shape of an inverted triangle with curves that places its base in the direction of the Pyrenees.

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Alt Empordà
Comarca
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Catalonia
Region	Comarques Gironines
Province	Girona
Capital	Figueres
Municipalities	List Agullana, Albanyà, L'Armentera, Avinyonet de Puigventós, Bàscara, Biure, Boadella d'Empordà, Borrassà, Cabanelles, Cabanes, Cadaqués, Cantallops, Capmany, Castelló d’Empúries, Cistella, Colera, Darnius, L'Escala, Espolla, El Far d'Empordà, Figueres, Fortià, Garriguella, Garrigàs, La Junquera, Lladó, Llançà, Llers, Masarac, Maçanet de Cabrenys, Mollet de Peralada, Navata, Ordis, Palau de Santa Eulàlia, Paláu-Sabardera, Pau, Pedret i Marzà, Peralada, Pont de Molins, Pontós, El Port de la Selva, Portbou, Rabós, Riumors, Roses, Sant Climent Sescebes, Sant Llorenç de la Muga, Sant Miquel de Fluvià, Sant Mori, Sant Pere Pescador, Santa Llogaia d'Àlguema, Saus, Camallera i Llampaies, La Selva de Mar, Siurana, Terrades, Torroella de Fluvià, La Vajol, Ventalló, Vila-sacra, Vilabertran, Viladamat, Vilafant, Vilajuïga, Vilamacolum, Vilamalla, Vilamaniscle, Vilanant, Vilaür
Government
• Body	Alt Empordà Comarcal Council
• President	Agustí Badosa (Junts)
Area
• Total	1,357.4 km2 (524.1 sq mi)
Population  (2014)
• Total	140,214
• Density	100/km2 (270/sq mi)
Demonym
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Largest municipality	Figueres

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In 1936, the year of the first official regionalization of Catalonia, the division of most of Empordà into two administrative regions was approved, based more on economic and market criteria than on historical, geographical or cultural ones ( l'Alt Empordà and l'Baix Empordà), the limit of which was set by taking advantage of the imaginary line that runs through the Massís del Montgrí and continues between the watershed of the Ter and Fluvià basins.

It should be borne in mind that a small part of the Empordà remained within the limits of the Gironès, part of which today belongs to the Pla de l'Estany.

physical environment

It borders with Vallespir and Rosselló to the north; with the Mediterranean to the east; with Baix Empordà, Gironès and Pla de l'Estany to the south, and with Garrotxa to the west.

View from the Monastery of Sant Pere de Roda

Geographically, Alt Empordà is located in the north-eastern sector of Catalonia. The region borders France, with the Axial Pyrenees, where granite and slate rocks dominate. Highlights include Albera with Puig Neulós (1,256 m) and Les Salines with Roc de Frausa (1,421 m) and Roc del Comptador (1,451 m), the latter the highest peak in the Empordà. This sector of the axial Pyrenees separates the plain of Empordà from that of Rosselló. Communication between both plains is not easy and the situation of the passes has conditioned the establishment of communication routes. Currently the Pertús pass (283 m), between La Jonquera and El Voló, and located almost in the center of the Empordà Pyrenees, is the most frequented pass. The national road and the motorway that connect Barcelona, Girona and Figueres with Perpignan and the rest of France pass through Pertús. No other main road crosses these border mountains. The railway passes through the eastern end, along the coast, between Portbou and Cervera de la Marenda. The route of the railway forced the opening of numerous tunnels and the construction of several bridges. The road that follows the direction of the railway makes numerous bends.

But the Axial Pyrenees does not end at Cape Cervera. It continues in a southeasterly direction with the Serra de Roda and the entire Cap de Creus peninsula, where the Pení reaches 606 m. Throughout this sector the coast is very rugged and steep with high cliffs and small coves. Among others there is the Serra de la Baga d'en Ferran located in the municipalities of Garriguella, Llançà and Vilamaniscle with a maximum elevation of 391 meters,[1][2] or the Puig de Sant Silvestre', a mountain of 307 meters[ 1] between the municipalities of Garriguella and Llançà.[3]

To the west of the Alt Empordà is the eastern end of the Pre-Pyrenees, where limestone rocks dominate. The relief is steep with cliffs and spades. The Puig de Bassegoda (1,374 m) and the Serra del Mont (1,124 m) stand out. This sector of the Pre-Pyrenees is the continuation of the Alta Garrotxa mountain ranges, with which they have many similarities. That is why it should not be surprising that they are known as the garroxes of the Empordà.

Main facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Castelló d'Empúries

Empordà is one of the oldest and most important counties in Catalonia. Its most relevant history began when the Greeks entered the coasts of this territory and established the Greek colony of Emporion, currently known as Empúries, which was the gateway to the Hellenic and Latin civilizations in Catalonia. The region maintained its essence in its own dynasty and great vitality until the 14th century.

The Empordà has been a source of inspiration for numerous artists and writers, among whom stand out names such as Josep Pla, Salvador Dalí or Carles Fages de Climent, who from an extreme localism have sought to project themselves towards the universality

Declaration of independence

On December 11, 2012, Alt Empordà declared itself Free Catalan Territory, thus proclaiming its independence from the Spanish state.[6]

Article principal: Llista de monuments de l'Alt Empordà

• Costa Brava nord
• Monuments megalítics de l'Alt Empordà
• Empúries
• Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà
• Parc Natural del Cap de Creus
• Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter
• Paratge Natural d'Interès Nacional de l'Albera
• Monestir de Sant Pere de Roda
• Santa Maria de Vilabertran
• Teatre-Museu Dalí
• Basílica de Santa Maria de Castelló d'Empúries
• Sant Tomàs de Fluvià
• Castell de Sant Ferran
• Castell de Peralada
• Museu Nacional del Joguet de Catalunya
• Ecomuseu-Farinera de Castelló d'Empúries
• Ciutadella de Roses
• Sant Llorenç de la Muga

Categoria principal: Altempordanesos

• Ermenguer d'Empúries (813-817)
• Gausfred I d'Empúries (931-991)
• Hug III d'Empúries (1154-1173)
• Hug IV d'Empúries (1170-1230)
• Ramon Muntaner (Peralada, 1265 – Eivissa, 1336)
• Sibil·la de Fortià (Fortià?, c. 1350 - Barcelona, 1406)
• Joan II d'Empúries (1398-1401)
• Pere III d'Empúries (1401)
• Bernat Hug de Rocabertí (Maçanet de Cabrenys, c.1415 - Montsó, 1485)
• Beat Maurici Proeta (Castelló d'Empúries, començament del s. XVI - Mallorca, 1544)
• Abdon Terradas i Paulí (Figueres, 1812 - Medina Sidonia, Andalusia, 1856)
• Narcís Fages i de Romà (Figueres, 1813 - Figueres, 1884)
• Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol (Figueres, 1819 - Sant Martí de Provençals, 1885)
• Bonaventura Frigola i Frigola (Castelló d'Empúries, 1829 – Barcelona, 1901)
• Josep Rubau Donadeu i Corcellés (Figueres, 1841 - Madrid, 1916)
• Antoni Agramont i Quintana (Castelló d'Empúries, 1851 - 1906)
• Frederic Rahola i Trèmols (Cadaqués, 1858 - 1919)
• Caterina Albert i Paradís (L'Escala, 1869 - L'Escala, 1966)
• Carles Rahola i Llorens (Cadaqués, 1881 – Girona, 1939)
• Josep Blanch i Reynalt (Castelló d'Empúries, 1888 - 1954)
• Frederic Marès i Deulovol (Portbou, 1893 - Barcelona, 1991)
• Martí Vilanova i Purcallas (Figueres, 1896 - Aulnay-sous-Bois, França, 1930)
• Jaume Compte i Canelles (Castelló d'Empúries, 1897 - Barcelona, 1934)
• Carles Fages de Climent (Figueres, 1902 - Figueres, 1968)
• Alexandre Deulofeu i Torres (L'Armentera, 1903 - Figueres, 1978)
• Salvador Dalí i Domènech (Figueres, 1904 – Figueres, 1989)
• Jaume Miravitlles i Navarra (Figueres, 1906 - Barcelona, 1988)
• Maria dels Àngels Vayreda i Trullol (Lladó, 1910 - Figueres, 1977)
• Joan Reglà i Campistol (Bàscara, 1917 - Sant Cugat del Vallès, 1973)
• Josep Pallach i Carolà (Figueres, 1920 - L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 1977)
• Fabià Estapé i Rodríguez (Portbou, 1923 - Lleó, 2012)
• Joan Alsina i Hurtós (Castelló d'Empúries, 1942 – Santiago de Xile, 1973)