I recently returned from vacation in sunny Catalonia. Questions Where to stay in Figueres

Barcelona is a very popular tourist city. Many people like the opportunity to combine a holiday near the sea with interesting excursions around the city, the opportunity to admire the fabulous architecture of Antoni Gaudi and stroll along the famous La Ramdra street.

But not everyone knows that very close to Barcelona (only about an hour by comfortable train), in the small town of Figueres, there is the Salvador Dali Theater-Museum, a visit to which will bring true pleasure and give unforgettable emotions.

How to get from Barcelona to Figueres on your own

1. Before Figueres Most tourists travel by train from Barcelona train station, which can be reached by metro. The station is called Barcelona Sants(intersection of green, gray and blue lines). You can see the Barcelona metro map here: www.metrobarcelona.es/en/maps.html.

2. You can buy a ticket directly at the station from the vending machines or from the cashier. To make it more convenient to plan your travel time, you can preview the train schedule on the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com. In the search menu you select from - BARCELONA SANTS, Where- FIGUERES VILAFANT.

3. There are different train options. It is best to choose high-speed trains AVE and AVAN in terms of time and comfort. Then the travel time will be only 55 minutes. Ticket price starts from 21 euros (there are discounts on some flights). Trains run very frequently.

Photo: Transition from the platform to the station.

4. So, you arrive at the station Figueres Vilafant. By the way, during the transition from the platform to the station, you can take a funny photo by holding Salvador Dali himself by the mustache. Then from the station to the Dali Museum you can follow the signs on foot (about 20 minutes), take the L1 bus from the Pedreres stop to Dr. Pasteur or take a taxi (it will take you there in 5 minutes) to save energy for visiting the museum.

Opening hours of the Dali Museum and ticket prices

Photo: Entrance to the Salvador Dali Museum.

The theater-museum is open to visitors on all days, with the exception of Christmas and New Year (January 1), as well as all Mondays that do not fall on a holiday or pre-holiday. It is better to check the opening hours on the museum’s website: they vary depending on the quarter.

It is best to buy a ticket to the museum on the website, then you will avoid having to stand in line at the entrance to the museum. Please note that the ticket indicates the date and strict entry time interval. In this regard, it is wise to have at least a small reserve.

The ticket price for adults is 14 euros, and traditional August night excursions with an offered glass of the Master's favorite champagne will cost 15 euros. Students and pensioners can visit the museum for 10 euros; children under 8 years old have free admission.

Included in the ticket price includes a visit to the Jewelry Museum in the same building.

Schedule: July-September - from 9.00 to 20.00, October - from 9:30 to 18.00, November-December from 10:30 to 18.00.

The exact address: Plaça Gala i Salvador Dalí, 5, 17600 Figueres, Spain

A little about the museum

This name - Theater-Museum is due to the fact that the building in which the complex dedicated to Dali was opened was indeed previously a theater. The building was dilapidated after the war and looked more like a frame. But Dali immediately liked it - the artist imagined how he would hold musical performances here.

Photo: Salvador Dali Theater-Museum inside.

In 1970, reconstruction of the premises began. The silhouette of the theater symbolizes international pop art to this day. The construction of the geodesic dome, which is the main focus of the museum, was carried out by Emilio Perez Pinheiro. In 1984, the Dalí Museum began to be covered with loaves of bread, and the theater's exterior was completed with giant eggs. Salvador Dali himself spoke about his passion for these products as elements that could be used in his works.

In October 1983, the Salvador Dali Museum was combined with the neighboring building - the Gorgott House. Part of the ensemble was the Galetea Tower: it was Dali’s residence at the end of his life.

By order of the artist, the Salvador Dali Museum also became the place of his burial (1989). The Great Spaniard's last wish was to merge with his creation. The genius dreamed that everyone who entered his museum would leave the walls of this house with a feeling of being full and “satiated” with art. So that surrealism permeates every centimeter of the building. And he succeeded.

The Salvador Dali Theater and Museum in Spain is a crash test for the brain!

The test results may be:
1. You didn’t understand what it was, i.e. your brain refused to process what you saw,
2. You did not understand everything from what you saw, i.e. your brain switched off periodically, giving work to the subconscious,
3. You were delighted with what you saw, i.e. your brain completely switched off while viewing the museum’s exhibitions and you subconsciously accepted the author’s idea.

In any of the options, don’t worry, not a single visitor was harmed during the tour of the Salvador Dali House Museum! It is in this inadequacy of conclusions about the Dali Museum that all its charm lies. And the “homegrown truth” of surrealism lies in expressing the true function of thought through the means of painting, throwing away control over it by the brain.

However, despite all these difficulties, 99 percent of tourists out of 100 visit the Salvador Dali Theater and Museum in Spain. Some of them are to take pictures against the backdrop of the intricate exhibits of the museum, others are to see many ambiguous paintings depicting the artist’s naked wife, others are to get into the unreal phantasmagoric world of dreams and half-dreams of the great Spanish painter, graphic artist, sculptor, director and writer Salvador Dali. But, surprisingly, everyone remains satisfied, and there are enough impressions to tell stories for more than one party with friends. Now go ahead for the impressions!

However, the first thing you will probably ask is: “Where is the Salvador Dali Museum?” - in Figueres, of course! Where else but in Figueres, hiding from the hot Mediterranean sun during a siesta with a bottle of good sherry, you can get inspiration for surreal scenes.

Your self-guided tour to the Salvador Dali Museum in Barcelona begins with purchasing a ticket to the neighboring town of Figueres! If you still decide to visit the museum individually, it means that you are not a trivial person and are not looking for easy ways. Could you get a ticket for the excursion “Girona, Dali Museum, Figueres” at Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona at the Barcelona Turistic Bus office? 71 and dozed off under the cool air conditioning on the bus, but didn’t do it.

Once you have chosen an individual visit, then you will get to the Dali Museum like a real tourist, on your own. Moreover, you already know where this Dali Museum is located. Where to start?

1. First you need to find yourself in the center of tourist activity - Plaza Catalunya, where the main railway junction of the city of Barcelona Sants is located. From here trains depart to different parts of Spain, including Figueres.

2. Next, without any doubt, you take a ticket for the first train you come across to Figueres station. There are only two options:
- the first, if you are lucky enough to take a Media distancia class train that costs € 12.90, travel time is 1.30 hours;
- second, Regional class costs € 9.50, travel time 2.10 hours.
Trains run every half hour, with the last train leaving at 20:30 local time.

3. After you board the car, your task is to follow the light board for the entire 140 kilometers of the journey, waiting for the Figueres sign to get off at this station. As you can see, there is no special wisdom in the question of “how to get to the Dali Museum”.

4. We have arrived. We left. Now you need to determine where the Salvador Dali Museum is located in Figueres. It's quite simple because... The city is not really famous for anything anymore. You don’t even have to ask passers-by for the address of the Dali Museum.

Calmly get off the train and through a small colorful Catalan market with an adjacent square, follow the signs, as if in a children's game of Cossacks - Robbers, to the museum itself. Signs are located at intervals of 50 meters from each other within line of sight.

Moreover, the main flow of people from the train will also be directed towards the museum. Here it is worth adding a step, then your chances of not standing in line for tickets to the museum will increase. You can prepare money on the go so as not to waste time.

Ticket price for adults is € 12, for children over 10 years old – € 8.

By the way, there are rarely places in the world where for this amount you can get such training on developing imagination and fantasy. There is everything here - a collection of Salvador Dali's favorite cars, a grotesque woman - a symbol of fertility, and a painting with double focusing, in which, depending on the viewing distance, either a naked female figure or a portrait of a man is visible. There are famous paintings by the artist and those not yet familiar to the general public. There are also mechanical devices that border on the discoveries of that time.

Be sure to check out the souvenir shop designed by Dali himself, mass-produced and handmade, where for an affordable price from € 10 to € 10,000, you can buy a souvenir or decoration as a souvenir of your non-trivial trip.

Starting from the entrance, throughout the entire tour of the museum-theater, you find yourself in a surreal action conceived by the owner and creator of this house, Salvador Dali. His unobtrusive presence is felt in everything - in the furnishings, exhibits, paintings, sculptures. It seems that the owner is somewhere nearby and quietly watching you and your reaction to his immortal creations. Moreover, they are so paradoxical that sometimes it begins to seem as if someone has gone crazy: either you or the author of all this. Take a trip to Figueres and see for yourself.

It simply doesn’t make sense to describe each exposure separately due to the individual perception of each person. See everything with your own eyes, and then decide whether you liked it or not. In any case, when asked by your friends: “Have you had an excursion to the Salvador Dali Museum in Barcelona?”, you can confidently answer:
- “Firstly, not in Barcelona, but in Figueres!”
- “Secondly, not to a museum, but to a museum-theater!”
- “Thirdly, it’s not an excursion, but an action!”
- “Fourthly, not just Salvador Dali, but the Man of the Planet Salvador Dali!”

Along with this material you usually read:

Barcelona offers its guests many interesting excursions, from sightseeing tours of the city and surrounding area to thematic ones. You can also go on a sightseeing tour, but those who do not want to depend on the opinions of the majority of excursionists and prefer to make their own schedule choose offers from local agencies.

Museums are an integral part of Barcelona, but in addition to museums, the ancient and beautiful city by the sea has many places that can and should be admired. And you can look at all this splendor from above by visiting Mount Tibidabo with its Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and the figure of Christ with his arms outstretched over the city.

Suburban trains and metro trains in Barcelona have several common interchange stations, which is very convenient for those traveling with transfers, in particular for tourists. You can also purchase a travel ticket, which is valid for a couple of days and gives the right to several trips on all types of transport.

The fight against violence is the work of public organizations, you say? But Barcelona residents think differently. Through the common efforts of the majority of the townspeople, they were able to achieve a ban on the bloody show - the famous bullfight, and with considerable benefit for the city: a huge shopping center on the site of the former arena brings in much more profit than the public execution of a doomed animal.

If you're looking for the easiest way to find the best prices for your train route, virail is what you've been looking for. You just need to select a date and virail will show you all the connections offered by our partners: by filtering the results you will find the ideal solution for your budget and schedule Virail will redirect you to the company's website for an easy and secure booking

Which companies take you from Calella to Figueres by train?

Among all virail partners, you will also have the opportunity to travel with Renfe, which serves the train route between Calella and Figueres.

Renfe is a national Spanish company that offers a very well developed high speed network served by Ave trains. It also covers regional short-distance routes, via the Feve train and international long-distance routes, for example with the Elipsos night train.

What is the price of train tickets from Calella to Figueres?

By booking in advance, you can find cheap train tickets from Calella to Figueres from RUB 7.70. However, train tickets for this route cost on average about 7.70 RUB.

On July 12, 2011, I planned to go to Figueres and see the Salvador Dali Museum and the San Ferran Fortress. The city of Fegueiras (FIGUERAS) is located in the northeast of Catalonia, 20 kilometers from the French border and 140 km from Barcelona. It has about 40 thousand inhabitants and is the capital of the Alt Empordà district, the province of Gerona in Catalonia.

I left the city of Calella, where I was vacationing on the Costa Brava.

I left Calella quite early - at 06.56 o'clock in the morning, because I wanted to get to Figueres by 9 o'clock. First I had to take the train to the Masanet station (MACANET-MASSANES). It is the final stop for the trains that go from the Costa Coast. Bravy is the central transfer point (below in the photo). I arrived at 07.29 in the morning.

Here I transferred to train No. MD 15009, which arrived at Masanet from Barcelona at 07.45 and departed a minute later at 07.46 to Figueres, which was the final stop.

The following example train passed through Masanet No. Regionale 15829 at 08.34 and arrived in Figueres at 09.39 (and continued on at

CERBERE)/ Train schedules can be viewed at the stations or in advance on the Internet at www.renfe.es

I bought a ticket at the ticket office in Calella to Figueres - round trip for 15.60 euros - don’t forget to validate it - I validated it first in Calella and then back to Figueres when I went back.

Trains and electric trains move very fast - more than 140 km per hour, and at 08.39 in the morning I got off at the Figueres station.

At the station there is a large map of Figueres, and here at the information center I took a free map of the city and left the station at the hour of 08.45 in the morning. (below in the photo)

The city is really small and it is impossible to get lost in it.

In addition, there are signs on the streets that will lead any tourist to the Salvador Dali Museum

After 8-10 minutes I approached the main street where locals relax - La Rambla, the construction of which began in 1828.

On the right side is the City Hall of Figueres

And next to the city hall is the San Pere Cathedral, built in 1020!

Behind the cathedral you can already see the dome of the Salvador Dali Museum.

More accurately, it is called a theater-museum. The center of the museum complex is the building of the old city theater, where at the age of 14 Salvador Dalí first exhibited one of his works. The old theater was bombed during the Spanish Civil War and lay in ruins for a long time. In 1960, the mayor of Figueres asked Dalí to donate one of his paintings.Dali decided to donate the museum.Dali gave free rein to his imagination: the theater was rebuilt into a typical absurd temple of surrealism.The museum was opened in 1974 and was completed until the 1980s.

I got to the museum at about 9 o'clock in the morning, and it opens at 9.00 every day in the summer, seven days a week.

There were very few tourists, since buses with tourists arrive after 10 o'clock in the morning. The ticket costs 12 euros.

There are several sculptures in front of the museum

At the descent to Jonker Street there is a sculpture “In Memory of Newton” by Salvador, dedicated to Newton’s discovery of gravity.

At the entrance there is a monument to the philosopher Francesc Pujols, a friend of the Dali family.

I went into the museum, it was very good that there were few people and that they were allowed to take photographs here!

Thousands of tourists come here to see the works of S. Dali. At Dali’s insistence, it is prohibited to explain the meaning of any exhibition in the museum!!! - visitors must understand and feel the artist’s intentions themselves, so I will leave them without comment.

Bedroom of Salvador Dali.

I spent 1 hour 20 minutes in the museum, after which I walked around its façade and headed towards the San Ferran fortress

Continued in part 2........

Let me remind you that when planning a trip to Spain, we chose the city of Caleia, Calella, located on the coast 60 km northeast of Barcelona, as our base camp. The city has a railway station, which allows for excursions to the surrounding area. So, using the local train, we have already visited Barcelona once (read the story). Now we want to go on an excursion to Girona.

Girona is located northeast of Calea (Calella) inland. There is a direct railway line from Barcelona to Girona (line R11), which unfortunately does not pass through Calella (Calella). You can get from Calea to Girona only with a change at the station Ma?anet Massanes(see diagram on the left). The red circles on the diagram indicate the stations that interest us: Calella – Ma?anet Massanes – Girona. The direct train from Barcelona to Girona is quite rare. Time windows reach 3 hours. Therefore, in order not to “hang around” at the transfer station waiting for a direct train to Girona, you need to have a train schedule on line R11 (direct railway line). In other words, from Kalea (Kalella) to the transfer station Ma?anet Massanes we need to arrive shortly before the arrival of the train from Barcelona heading towards Girona on the direct line R11 at the same station.
Let's look at a fragment of the train schedule on line R11 (direct). According to the schedule, the train from Barcelona will arrive at Ma?anet Massanes station at 10:04.

Now let's look at a fragment of the train schedule on our R1 line. If we leave Calea at 9:28, we will arrive in Ma?anet Massanes at 9:57.

In total, we have 7 minutes at our disposal: the train to Girona will arrive at the same platform, only on a different track. It is possible that he may be a little late. Above I gave an example of weekend schedules, which are more “strict” in terms of time connections. Now we get on the train and go to the Ma?anet Massanes stop.

After 30 minutes we arrive at the final station Ma?anet Massanes. In our case, we had to wait about 40 minutes for the train to Girona. There were no other morning options. In total, about 20 people arrived for the transfer. The Ma?anet Massanes station is a rather remote place, remote from the centers of civilization - just a station in the forest. It has a small building containing a waiting room, a ticket office and a small cafe. From Kalei (Kalella), two more couples of elderly Englishmen were traveling with us in the carriage. In Blanes, a gang of Spanish youth loaded onto the carriage. About six guys and girls. They behaved noisily and, as we would say, defiantly, but peacefully. Judging by the “Iroquois” on their heads, they could be classified as a dying breed of punks. So, at the Ma?anet Massanes station in the waiting room, one of them took a recumbent form, raising his legs, resting them against the wall. All this was accompanied by approving cries of boyfriends and girlfriends. Less than five minutes later, a policeman appeared in the hall, a tall fellow, like “Uncle Styopa.” He said something quietly to the cheerful company and they immediately calmed down. The “recumbent” even sat down on the bench. Before the train arrived in Girona, the cheerful company showed no more signs of life. “Uncle Styopa” also brought order to the two girls. When we arrived at Ma?anet Massanes station, on the next platform (towards Barcelona) a couple of girlfriends in evening dresses caught our attention. Two friends were sleeping peacefully on a bench, putting their high-heeled shoes under their heads. Apparently they were not strong enough to get home. While we were wandering around the platform while waiting for the train, they managed to wake up, smoke and move to another bench. They also didn’t like that shop for some reason. They eventually calmed down, sitting on the edge of the platform. The morning coolness of the asphalt surface of the platform brought them peace. Not so! “Uncle Styopa” brought order here too, appearing out of nowhere. The waiting audience watched the scene from afar. The policeman said something to the girls, they verbally resisted, but submitted to the force: they stood up from the edge of the platform and left the station. Before the train arrived, the policeman walked sedately along the platform with his hands behind his back. Seeing the approaching train from Barcelona, I asked him: “Girona?” He shook his head: “No.” Indeed, the train passed by. When the second train arrived, he nodded - yours. These events fit into 40 minutes of waiting for the train to Girona at Ma?anet Massanes station.

Another half hour and we get off at Girona station (Girona, Girona). There is a tourist information desk at Girona railway station. It is located in a visible place - just look carefully around. Be sure to take a city map there. Leaving the station building, we head to Plaza Catalunya. For most tourists arriving by train in Girona (Girona), Plaza Catalunya is like the “gate” to the Old Quarter of Girona (Barri Vell, in Catalan) - the most interesting place for tourists, the “highlight” of the excursion program (see diagram below) .

The tourist card of Girona (Gerona) on the city’s official website is similar to the one issued at the tourist counter at the train station. Check it out in advance.

Sunday morning - on the way to the Old Quarter of Girona (Barri Vell), we meet rare passers-by on the streets, mostly tourists. The city is practically extinct. From Girona station, along Bailen street we get to Barcelona street. We turn onto Sant Antoni M. Claret street, and from there it’s a stone’s throw to Plaza Catalunya.

From Girona station, along Bailen street (on the right in the photo) we get to Barcelona street (on the left)

And so we come out to Plaza Catalunya: it’s pretty deserted here on this sunny Sunday morning. Plaza Catalunya is a very wide bridge over the Onyar River, which divides the city of Girona into two parts. To the north, along the river, about fifty meters away, there is the Port de Pedra bridge, on which the launching pad for the green excursion train is located. Anyone who wishes can take a sightseeing tour on this train “from Romashkov” - it travels throughout the Old Quarter. The duration of the excursion is 30 minutes.
Schedule - every 45 minutes from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00
Ticket price (adult) – 4.00 €
Ticket price (up to 10 years) – 3.50 €

Girona, Plaza Catalunya, at the same time a bridge over the Onyar river.

Fat fish splash in the dry Onyar River. As they say and write in guidebooks, tourists often feed the fish. So they are not in danger of starvation; But the fish would like more water in the Onyar River. We looked at the fish - we went to the Old Quarter.