Discover the Empuriabrava Marina

The Marina of Empuriabrava is one of the largest marinas in the world today. In homage to its network of navigable canals and the exceptional architecture of the countless houses and flats that surround it, it is nicknamed "the Spanish Venice". The one that is considered the largest marina in the whole of Europe stands majestically between the French border and the Costa Brava in Spain. Charming and beautiful, it has many assets that are attracting more and more tourists and real estate investors to buy properties for sale in Empuriabrava.

History of the Empuriabrava Marina

Empuriabrava is the residential area of the town of Castelló d'Empuries. In the 1960s, the lands of this municipality (located about 6 km from the sea) were exclusively dedicated to agriculture and livestock. There was a total of 5 farmhouses: Llebrer, Modaguer, Torre Ribota, Vell and Moixo.

In 1964, the Marquis of San Mori, Antonio de Moxo i Güell, who owned a large part of the farmhouses (4 in total), attempted a first urban development of the area. He then joined forces with two local entrepreneurs (Miquel Arpa i Battle and Fernando Vilal-Longa i Rossell) to set up a project to build an international airfield with a residential area. This was not to the liking of the small owners.

In the face of resistance from the latter, the promoters undertook road and canal construction work without obtaining prior official authorisation. It was not until three years later, in 1967, that the project received the approval of the city council. Thus was born the Empuriabrava, a complex which was directly inspired by Venice with its main canal, secondary canals and buildings.

Today, the Empuriabrava Marina has become a real tourist resort, occupying an area of 503 hectares. It is a mix of almost 42 different nationalities. Its population is much larger than that of the surrounding area. In winter, it has almost 7,000 residents. In the summer months, this figure can rise to 80,000 due to the arrival of tourists.

The width and depth of the canals

Nestled between the Aiguamolls de l'Emporda and the Bay of Rosas, the Empuriabrava Marina has an extensive network of fully navigable canals (approximately 25 km). In fact, 10% of the area occupied by this place is made up of ports and canals. The canals open directly onto villas and serve as a shelter for boats in transit when the tramontana blows in the direction of the Gulf of Leon.

The entrance canal is 55 metres wide, the entrance draught (TE) is estimated at 3 meters and falls to 2.5 meters in the main port. In terms of depth, the jetty is 3 meters, the basin 2.2 meters and the outer harbour 2.5 meters.

Types of boats and sizes allowed at the Marina

The Empuriabrava Marina has been a popular tourist destination for visitors from all over the world since its creation. An amphibious town, it impresses by the length of its canals and the magnificence of its landscapes. It has 5,000 private moorings, 700 of which are reserved for visitors. It is prepared to receive maritime craft from 4 to 25 meters in length with a TE of at least 2.8 meters. Maintenance services are available for boats weighing up to 500 tons.

However, it is important to point out that not all types of boats are allowed to enter. In fact, the presence of bridges on most canals restricts the entry of motorized and sailing boats with an air draught (the height above the waterline) of more than 2.8 meters.

The only places without bridges are the first and oldest part of the marina. They therefore do not impose a maximum height not to be exceeded for these types of boats. As a result, these two areas are more suitable for large sailing boats and yachts with engines. In addition, another site has the capacity to receive 28-metre yachts and TE's not exceeding 3 meters.

The names of the ports inside the Marina and their capacity to receive visitors

At the Marina of Empuriabrava, there are several other marinas:

• The port of Roses with a capacity of 485 moorings.
• The Club Nautica l'Escalat, which has 957 moorings for ships of up to 22 meters in length.
• Sant Carles Marina, which can accommodate up to 842 boats with a maximum length of 33 metres.
• The Nautic Estartit club has 680 moorings for yachts and boats.
• Calaf port (San Jordi) with a capacity of 324 moorings.
• The Alcaidesa Marina, with 624 moorings for boats from 8 to 90 metres in length.

The real estate market at the Empuriabrava Marina

The real estate market is very prosperous at the Empuriabrava Marina. During the summer months, rental and property prices rise in literally the entire region. This is due to the large number of luxury resort visitors every year. Sandy beaches, marshes that have become nature reserves, the presence of wilderness areas, a multitude of canals and ports: these are all assets that attract tourists.

Moorings

At the Empuriabrava Marina, moorings are a serious and interesting investment. This is despite the presence of bridges that limit access to certain areas of the port. As the summer season approaches, there is an increase in demand for both the purchase and rental of these items.

Villas, houses and flats with private moorings

Empuriabrava is a dynamic city where life is good and where there are many green spaces, preserved sites and numerous shops and leisure activities. There are different types of accommodation with their own mooring. These are :

• Luxury villas that can be found all along the canals with private mooring and swimming pool. These are the most expensive. accommodations in the region.
• Properties called "town house" or "fisherman's house". They are located along the canals and each one has its own private mooring.
• Flats with access to the canal and moorings.

A magnificent lakeside town on the Costa Brava, the Empuriabrava Marina is a popular tourist destination. It is inspired by city models such as Miami and Venice. The seaside resort has several tourist advantages. As a result, the real estate market is constantly flourishing and accessible to all budgets.

Do you want to buy a property in Empuriabrava to spend a few months of holidays during the year or to settle there permanently? Please contact our real estate agency in Empuriabrava and we will help you find the apartment, house or villa of your dreams.