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La Bisbal is the Costa
Brava's third most important inland town after Girona and Figueres, and
comprises two distinct districts - the old and new.
The New Town is straggled along the main road and nearly every every
shop offers products of the local ceramics industry. This competition
has resulted in a wide selection of flower pots, tubs decorative tiles
and kitchen articles etc being offered for sale at prices which are a
fraction of those elsewhere in Catalonia and the Costa Brava. Large,
traditional glazed garden tubs are just a few euro. This alone is a
great reason to visit La Bisbal.
Although many people visit the town with the sole purpose of buying
ceramics , the old town has much more to offer.
 The
Old Town's original bridge over the River Daró is at the north
west edge of the town. This 17th century bridge, Pont Vell, is now a
footbridge and stands on the foundations of a Romanesque bridge which
had been washed away by a torrent. Even in winter, the river is now
hardly a stream and in summer it is virtually dry.
La Bisbal's most important building is the fortified Palace of the
Bishops of Girona, Castell Palau de la Bisbal, on the Plaça
Castell. This heavily fortified castle provided the bishops with
additional security by uniquely siting the chapel on the roof of the
defences. A trap door in the chapel leads directly to the Bishop's
quarters below.
The Museu Terracota in in Carrer Sis d'Octobre charts the history of
the ceramics industry of the town. This former factory shows techniques
ranging from original hand production through early, apparently
over-complicated machines to more recent methods. Together with various
tile moulds and prototype building elements etc, this makes a visit an
absorbing and entertaining experience. The museum is open from May to
September.
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