Portbou
Portbou | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 42°25′37″N 3°09′40″E / 42.42694°N 3.16111°E | |
| Country | Spain |
| Community | Catalonia |
| Province | Girona |
| Comarca | Alt Empordà |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Trino Martínez (2019) |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.2 km2 (3.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 28 m (92 ft) |
| Population (2018) | |
• Total | 1,077 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Portbouenc, portbouenca |
| Website | www |
Portbou (Catalan pronunciation: [ˌpɔɾˈβɔw]) is a town in the Alt Empordà county, in the Province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. It has a population of 1077 people (2018).
Portbou is located near the French border in the Costa Brava region, and frequently serves as a dropping off point for SNCF trains coming from Cerbère in France.
Portbou was a small but important point for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War, as it was one of the few places from where they could get supplies from abroad. Portbou is also where German philosopher Walter Benjamin committed suicide and was buried in 1940. There is a monument in his honor, by Dani Karavan.