Editing Figueres

{{Short description|City in Catalonia, Spain}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Figueres
| native_name             = 
| settlement_type         = [[Municipalities of Catalonia|Municipality]]
| image_skyline           = MSodaiguiSTPereFigueres1.jpg
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = St. Peter's church
| image_flag              = Bandera de Figueres.svg
| flag_size               = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Escut de Figueres.svg
| shield_size             = 
| shield_alt              = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = Localització de Figueres respecte de l'Alt Empordà.svg
| map_caption             = Location in Alt Empordà county
| pushpin_map             = Spain Catalonia vegueries#Spain
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|42|16|00|N|2|57|54|E|region:ES_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type  = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name  = {{flag|Spain}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Community]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Catalonia}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[Vegueries of Catalonia|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Comarques Gironines|Girona]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Comarques of Catalonia|County]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Alt Empordà]]
| subdivision_type4  = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name4  = [[Province of Girona|Girona]]
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = Jordi Masquef Creus (2023) ([[Together for Catalonia (2020)|JxC]])<ref name=municat>{{cite web|url=http://aplicacions.municat.gencat.cat/index.php?page=consulta&mostraEns=1706690004|title=Ajuntament de Figueres|publisher=[[Generalitat of Catalonia]]|access-date=2015-11-13}}</ref>
| area_footnotes          = <ref name=idescat>{{cite web|url=http://www.idescat.cat/emex/?lang=en&id=170669|title=El municipi en xifres: Figueres|publisher=[[Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya|Statistical Institute of Catalonia]]|access-date=2015-11-23}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = 19.3
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 39
| population_as_of        = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes    = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total        = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_demonym      = figuerenc, -enca<br>(pl. figuerencs, -enques)
| population_note         = 
| postal_code_type        = 
| postal_code             = 17600
| area_code_type          = 
| area_code               =
| blank_name              = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info              = [[Mediterranean climate#Hot-summer Mediterranean climate|Csa]] 
| website                 = {{URL|figueres.cat}}
| footnotes               = 
}}
'''Figueres''' ({{IPA|ca|fiˈɣeɾəs|lang|Pronunciation of Figueres in Catalan.ogg}}; {{langx|es|Figueras}} {{IPA|es|fiˈɣeɾas||Pronunciation of Figueras in Spanish.ogg}}) is the capital city of [[Alt Empordà]] county, in the [[Comarques Gironines|Girona region]], [[Catalonia]], Spain.

The town is the birthplace of artist [[Salvador Dalí]], and houses the [[Dalí Theatre and Museum]], a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors. It is also the birthplace of [[Narcís Monturiol]], inventor of the first successful machine-powered [[submarine]]. Also born here was [[Mónica Naranjo]], one of the best selling Spanish singers of the 1990s and 2000s.

==History==
The town's name derives from that of '''''Ficaris''''', of [[Visigoth Kingdom|Visigoth]] origin. In [[1267]], King [[James I of Aragon]] conceded it ''[[fuero]]'' rights, but four years later Count [[Ponç Hug IV of Empúries|Ponç IV of Empúries]] set the town on fire.

In 1794 Figueras was surrendered to France, but it was regained in 1795. During the [[Peninsular War]] it was taken by the French in 1808, recaptured by the Spaniards in 1811, and retaken by the French in the same year.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Figueras|volume=10|page=334}}</ref>

During the [[Spanish Civil War]], it remained loyal to the [[Spanish Republican government in exile|Republican government]], and was repeatedly bombed by the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] and [[Italian Fascism|Fascist Italian]] aviation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publico.es/actualidad/figueres-gernika-catalunya.html|title=Figueres, la Gernika de Catalunya|date=2013-04-03|website=Publico|language=es|access-date=2020-01-03}}</ref>

It was one of the most heavily bombed Catalan cities during the Civil War, in [[1938]], and, especially, at the beginning of [[1939]], when thousands of people passed through the town on their way into exile. The number of bombing victims cannot be known with certainty, but could be close to 400.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://icip.gencat.cat/en/actualitat/activitats/Activitat_Agenda/ICIP-participates-in-the-historical-memory-project-silences-Figueres-under-the-bombs|title=ICIP participates in the historical memory project "(silences) Figueres under the bombs". International Catalan Institute for Peace. Generalitat de Catalunya|website=[[International Catalan Institute for Peace]]|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-03}}</ref>

Spain's Republican government held its final meeting of the civil war (on 1 February 1939) in the dungeons of its [[Sant Ferran Castle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/figueres/attractions/castell-de-sant-ferran/a/poi-sig/1188431/1004438|title=Castell de Sant Ferran {{!}} Figueres, Spain Attractions|website=Lonely Planet|language=en|access-date=2020-01-03}}</ref>

Figueres recovered starting from the 1950s, consolidating its economy around the tourism industry.

Figueres was once home to a [[Jewish community]] prior to the [[Expulsion of the Jews from Spain|expulsion of the Jews]] in 1492, and a small Jewish quarter remains.<ref>{{cite web |title=FIGUERES |url=https://www.catalunyabusturistic.com/en/figueres |website=Catalunya Bus Turistic |access-date=24 June 2024}}</ref>

==Main sights==
* [[Sant Ferran Castle]], built in 1753 during the reign of [[Ferdinand VI of Spain]], on the site of a Capuchin convent.<ref name="EB1911"/> It has a pentagonal layout, with a total perimeter of {{convert|5.6|km|1|abbr=on}}.
* Parish church of St. Peter, in [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]]. It has a single nave with side chapels.
* [[Dalí Theatre and Museum]] (19th century, renovated in the 1960s). It incorporates a tower from the ancient walls.
* [[Technical Museum of the Empordà]], a technology museum with hundreds of antique typewriters
* [[Museu de l'Empordà]]
<br />
<gallery mode="packed">

File:064 Castell de Sant Ferran.jpg|Sant Ferran Castle
File:20061227-Figueres Teatre-Museu Dalí MQ.jpg|Dalí theatre and museum
</gallery>
[[File:Face_of_Dali_1025.jpg|thumb|A [[Surrealism|surrealist]] tribute to [[Salvador Dalí]] at the base of the Rambla, Figueres]]

==Transport==
Situated in the northeast corner of Catalonia, Figueres is about {{convert|40|km|abbr=in}} from [[Girona]], {{convert|140|km|abbr=in}} from [[Barcelona]], {{convert|60|km|abbr=in}} from [[Perpignan]], and {{convert|50|km|abbr=in}} from [[Girona-Costa Brava Airport]].  It is also served by its own [[Figueres railway station|railway station]] just east of the old town center.

Figueres has been connected since December 2010 to the [[high-speed rail]] network with the start of services connecting Figueres to [[LGV Perpignan-Figueres|Perpignan via LGV]], allowing direct [[TGV]] services to [[Paris]] in 5&nbsp;h 27&nbsp;min. Connections to [[AVE#International connection with France|Madrid-Barcelona via AVE]] began on 8 January 2013 and the trip takes 53&nbsp;min to Barcelona Sants (12&nbsp;min to Girona).<ref>{{cite web|last=Kallas|first=Siim|title=The European commission welcomes the entry into service of the high speed line between Barcelona and Figueres – last stage of Spain-Europe high-speed connection|url=http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/kallas/headlines/news/2013/01/spain-hi-speed_en.htm|publisher=European Commission|access-date=10 January 2013|date=8 January 2013}}</ref>

==Economy==
The Gondán Shipyard in Figueres is a large [[shipyard]] that carries out ship construction and repair.<ref name="ER">{{Cite web |title=Astilleros Gondan and Euroresinst |url=https://euroresins.com/baltek-sb-balsa-core-receives-the-abs-certification-2-2/ |access-date=3 June 2024 |publisher=EuroResin}}</ref> It has been in operation since 1969.<ref name="ER"/> Among other vessel types, the ship produces large wind farm service vessels and in recent years has also built electric ferries.<ref name="OM">{{Cite web |title=Gondan launches wind service vessel to Edda|url=https://www.offshore-mag.com/vessels/article/14204185/gondan-shipyard-launches-offshore-wind-commissioning-service-operation-vessel-to-edda-wind |access-date=3 June 2024 |publisher=Offshore Mag}}</ref><ref name="FSN">{{Cite web |title=Ten 100% Electric Ferries Ordered for Lisbon |url=https://ferryshippingnews.com/ten-100-electric-ferries-ordered-for-lisbon/ |access-date=3 June 2024 |publisher=Ferry Shipping News}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Narcís Monturiol]] (1819–1885), pioneering [[Ictíneo I|submarine]] engineer and inventor
*[[Salvador Dalí]] (1904–1989), artist
*[[Montserrat Minobis i Puntonet]] (1942–2019), feminist journalist
*[[Montserrat Vilà]] (born 1964), ecologist
*[[Mónica Naranjo]] (born 1974), singer and television host
*[[Dídac Lee]] (born 1974), entrepreneur, former board member of [[FC Barcelona]]
*[[Maverick Viñales]] (born 1995), [[MotoGP]] racer
*[[Sílvia Soler]] (born 1961), writer and journalist
*[[Manuela Trasobares]] (born 1962<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.elespanol.com/porfolio/20221203/manuela-trasobares-discipulo-dali-scala-milan-liceu/722927837_0.html |title=Manuela Trasobares, la discípula de Dalí que se convirtió en la primera soprano trans en actuar en La Scala de Milán o el Liceu |date=2022-12-03 |language=es |trans-title=Manuela Trasobares, Dalí's disciple who became the first trans soprano to perform at La Scala in Milan or the Liceu}}</ref>), transsexual activist, opera singer, and politician

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}
Figueres is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Ciutats agermanades|url=http://ca.figueres.cat/ajuntament/ciutats-agermanades/|website=figueres.cat|publisher=Figueres|language=ca|access-date=2020-12-03}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Alcalá la Real]], Spain (1989)
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Marignane]], France (1968)
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Kalisz]], Poland (1986)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]], United States (2011)

==References==
;References
{{reflist}}

;Literature
* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). ''Guia de Catalunya'', Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. {{ISBN|84-87135-01-3}} (Spanish). {{ISBN|84-87135-02-1}} (Catalan).

==External links==
{{Commons category|Figueres}}
{{wikivoyage|Figueres}}
* [http://www.figueres.cat Figueres Council]: Figueres Council (Catalan)
* [http://aplicacions.municat.gencat.cat/index.php?page=consulta&mostraEns=1706690004 Government data pages] {{in lang|ca}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Figueres
|N  = [[Cabanes, Girona|Cabanes]]<br />[[Vilabertran]]
|NE = [[Peralada]]
|E  = [[Vila-sacra]]
|SE = [[El Far d'Empordà]]
|S  = 
|SW = [[Vilafant]]
|W  = 
|NW = [[Llers]]
}}

{{Alt Emporda}}
{{Municipalities in Girona|state=autocollapse}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Figueres| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities in the Province of Girona]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Province of Girona]]