SPECIAL HERITAGE PLAN OF LA BISBAL D'EMPORDÀ

The municipality of la Bisbal d'Empordà is located next to the Daró river, north of the Gavarres Massif, in the interior of the Baix Empordà region, of which it is the capital. The municipal area borders Corçà and Ullastret to the north, Vullpellac to the east, and Cruïlles, Monells and Sant Sadurní de l'Heura to the west. In addition to the city of la Bisbal, it includes the hamlet of el Vilar, the village of Sant Pol de la Bisbal and the village of Castell d'Empordà.

To the south, there is an extensive area shaped by the northern foothills of the Gavarres, reaching as far as the Ganga pass. These ridges descend into the smaller flat sector, in the valley of the Daró river, which begins its lower course here and widens the valley as it opens toward the Empordà alluvial plain. To the north, a small mountain ridge separates Castell d’Empordà, within the Daró basin, from the basin of the Ullastret lake.

The original city center, focused around the main square, the church and the episcopal castle, is characterized by its medieval layout, largely preserved in narrow and winding alleyways such as Carrer del Call, and small squares like the Plaça Major, which has lost its ancient arcades.

This medieval nucleus, once surrounded by walls, began to expand in the 16th century with small suburbs built near some of the town gates. The most significant growth occurred from the first half of the 17th century, as seen in the door lintels of many houses. A large district was then developed to the south and southwest, extending the Raval street and forming the streets of Tint, Tarongers (Orange Trees), Hospital, and the beginning of Pedró street, where many buildings and clusters from that period remain.

The Special Plan for Heritage Protection and Inventory of Assets of la Bisbal d’Empordà (Baix Empordà) aims to provisionally define a list of unique or collective heritage assets within the municipality. These are protected due to their architectural, historical, archaeological, natural, and environmental value, forming the initial basis for the future official catalog of protected assets in la Bisbal.