University of Girona

The University of Girona is a public institution and part of the Catalan public university system. It is devoted to excellence in teaching and research and involved in social development and progress through the creation, transmission, dissemination and criticism of science, technology, the humanities, the social and health sciences and the arts.  It is an economic and cultural driver of the region with a universal mission and it is open to all the world’s traditions, advances and cultures.

The historical forerunner to the University of Girona, the Estudi General, was founded in 1446 by the King Alfonse the Magnanimous, who granted Girona the privilege of awarding degrees in grammar, rhetoric, philosophy and theology, law and medicine. The municipal syndics and the Church were responsible for the teaching but the classes did not start officially until 1572, in what is now known as the Les Àligues (Eagles) building, which was purpose-built as the seat of the university, The university studies spread with an excellent reputation until 1717. Then the University was closed because of the Nova Planta Decree and the loss of Catalonia’s political identity.

Throughout the 19th century, and as a result of the liberal revolution, the City Council promoted the so-called “Free University of Girona”, which offered studies in Law and pharmacy until 1874.

The recent history of the University of Girona is linked to the Escola Normal de Mestres, a teacher training college, and especially to the initiatives carried out in the 1960s to re-establish university studies in Girona. That was when the University College of Girona and the Polytechnic School were created, attached, respectively, to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The Estudi General was subsequently restored offering studies in business, the humanities, science and social sciences. Finally, on 12 December 1991, the Catalan Parliament approved Act 35/1991, creating the new University of Girona, with contributions from the different university cultures that have turned Girona into a multidisciplinary benchmark.

These more of 30 years of history represent a strengthening of the academic offering, an increase in the number of students (from 7,000 in 1992 to 15,300 in 2023), more research and a greater presence both internationally and in the region, as well as the expansion of the campuses, now located in the city centre, Montilivi and Barri Vell.

More information in www.udg.edu

Girona

Girona is one of the most distinctive historical cities of Catalonia, well known for its Jewish old quarter, its magnificent gothic cathedral and its unique gastronomy. It has around 100.000 inhabitants and is equipped with all touristic facilities. The city is situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees, and it offers a wonderfully contrasting landscape only 100km far away from Barcelona, 60km from France and 30km from Costa Brava.

Girona invites visitors to journey through over two thousand years of history, from its Roman origins to the Modern Period and on to the contemporary city, taking in some exuberant Baroque spaces and Rafael Masó’s Noucentisme-style buildings on the way. Finally, green Girona includes two urban parks (La Devesa and Parc del Migdia) and a surrounding area of remarkable beauty, in particular the valley of Sant Daniel, the foothills of the Gavarres Massif, and the banks of the River Ter.

More information in www.girona.cat

Travel

By Plane
The nearest airports are Girona Costa Brava Airport (14 km) and Barcelona El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (113km). 

By Train from Barcelona El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport to Girona

From Barcelona El Prat Josep Tarradellas airport to Barcelona-Sants train station:
Barcelona-Sants train station is connected with the airport via line R2 north. Barcelona airport has two terminals, T1 and T2, and the airport’s train station is next to T2. The airport offers free shuttle buses (BusTransit T1-T2) to transfer passangers from/to T1. The train from T2 to Barcelona-Sants departs every 30 minutes (the first at 5:42 am and the last at 23:38 pm) and the trip lasts 17 minutes.
More information in https://rodalies.gencat.cat/web/.content/02_Horaris/horaris/R2.pdf (see pages 2 and 4).

From Barcelona-Sants to Girona:
There are two types of trains: 
– AVANT (high-speed train, recommended): 38 minutes, price from 13,90€ check availability and book in advance. 
– Media Distancia (MD): 1h 17 minutes aprox. Price from 8,50€.
More information in https://www.renfe.com/es/en