Figueres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Figueres
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Municipality
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St. Peter's church
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Location in Alt Empordà county
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 Figueres
Location in Catalonia
Figueres
Location in Spain
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| Sovereign state |  Spain |
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| Community |  Catalonia |
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| Region | Girona | ||
| County | Alt Empordà | ||
| Province | Girona | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 19.3 km2 (7.5 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 39 m (128 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 46,381 | ||
| • Density | 2,403/km2 (6,224/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | figuerenc, -enca (pl. figuerencs, -enques) |
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| Climate | Csa | ||
Figueres is a lively city in Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital of the Alt Empordà county, located in the Girona region.
This city is famous as the birthplace of the amazing artist Salvador Dalí. You can visit the Dalí Theatre and Museum here, which he helped design himself! Another important inventor, Narcís Monturiol, who created one of the first successful machine-powered submarines, was also born in Figueres.
Contents
History of Figueres
The name Figueres comes from an old word, Ficaris, from the time of the Visigoth Kingdom. In 1267, King James I of Aragon gave the town special rights. However, just four years later, Count Ponç IV sadly burned the town down.
Figueres During Wars
Figueres has seen many conflicts throughout its history. In 1794, it was given to France, but Spain got it back in 1795. During the Peninsular War (1808-1811), the city was captured and recaptured several times by French and Spanish forces.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Figueres stayed loyal to the Republican government. Because of this, it was bombed many times by planes from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.
Figueres was one of the most bombed cities in Catalonia during the war, especially in 1938 and early 1939. Thousands of people passed through the town as they tried to escape the war. The exact number of people hurt or killed is not known, but it was likely around 400.
The last meeting of Spain's Republican government during the Civil War took place in the dungeons of Sant Ferran Castle on February 1, 1939.
After the War
After the 1950s, Figueres began to recover. The city's economy grew stronger, especially thanks to the tourism industry.
Figueres also had a Jewish community long ago, before they were asked to leave Spain in 1492. A small part of the old Jewish quarter can still be seen today.
Main Sights to See
Figueres has many interesting places to visit.
- Sant Ferran Castle: This huge castle was built in 1753. It has a unique five-sided shape and its walls stretch for about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles).
- Parish Church of St. Peter: This church is built in the Gothic style. It has a large main area with smaller chapels on the sides.
- Dalí Theatre and Museum: This famous museum was built in the 19th century and later updated in the 1960s. It even includes an old tower from the city's ancient walls.
- Technical Museum of the Empordà: If you love technology, this museum is for you! It has hundreds of old typewriters and other cool inventions.
- Museu de l'Empordà: This museum shows the history and art of the Empordà region.
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Sant Ferran Castle
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Dalí theatre and museum
Getting Around Figueres
Figueres is located in the northeast part of Catalonia. It's about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Girona and 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Barcelona. It's also close to Perpignan in France, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) away.
The city has its own train station just east of the old town. Since 2010, Figueres has been connected to the high-speed rail network. You can take a direct TGV train to Paris in about 5 hours and 27 minutes. High-speed trains to Barcelona started in 2013, taking only 53 minutes to get to Barcelona Sants station.
Economy of Figueres
A big part of Figueres' economy comes from the Gondán Shipyard. This shipyard has been building and repairing ships since 1969. They make many types of vessels, including large ships for wind farms and even electric ferries.
Famous People from Figueres
Many notable people were born in Figueres:
- Narcís Monturiol (1819–1885), a pioneering submarine engineer and inventor.
- Salvador Dalí (1904–1989), a world-famous artist known for his surrealist works.
- Montserrat Minobis i Puntonet (1942–2019), a journalist who supported women's rights.
- Montserrat Vilà (born 1964), an ecologist who studies nature.
- Mónica Naranjo (born 1974), a popular singer and television host.
- Dídac Lee (born 1974), an entrepreneur and former board member of FC Barcelona.
- Maverick Viñales (born 1995), a professional MotoGP motorcycle racer.
- Sílvia Soler (born 1961), a writer and journalist.
- Manuela Trasobares (born 1962), an opera singer and activist.
Twin Towns – Sister Cities
Figueres has special friendships with other cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities":
Alcalá la Real, Spain (since 1989)
Marignane, France (since 1968)
Kalisz, Poland (since 1986)
St. Petersburg, United States (since 2011)
See also
In Spanish: Figueras para niños
