Travessia Illes Medes

Legend has it that these waters were once the primary hunting ground for Barbary pirates, who relied on the complex coastal geography of the Costa Brava to launch raids against the local population. To hold them back, the 16th and 18th centuries saw the construction of a sophisticated defensive network; today, swimmers can still spot the remnants of these fortifications, including the Torre Begura and the watchtower on Torre Morratxa, standing guard over the coastline as they did centuries ago. While the pirates are long gone, the legacy of struggle remains, most notably at the banks of the Ter River, where the Battle of the Ter in 1694 saw French forces engage in heavy combat along these same shores.

A swim through history

Participating in the 55th edition of the Illes Medes swim, set for June 28, 2026, feels like a direct encounter with this storied landscape. As you navigate from the Medes Islands archipelago toward the port of L'Estartit, the four cylindrical towers of the Montgrí Castle emerge on the horizon. Built between 1294 and 1301 atop the Montgrí Massif, this unfinished fortress was originally intended to monitor the counts of Empúries and now serves as a constant, looming companion for those tackling the 2km 'La Clàssica' or the 3.5km 'La Brava' routes. The swim path takes you through a unique ecosystem where the proximity to the mouth of the Ter River fosters a protected marine environment, often visible beneath the surface as you make your way toward the mainland. For those seeking additional challenges in the area, the calendar offers other opportunities, such as the nearby OncoSwim or the long-distance endurance required for the MARNATON eDreams Begur by Zoggs, both of which draw on the same rugged character of these waters. As you approach the harbor, the legacy of the region comes into focus, from the distant ruins of the Greek colony of Empúries to the practical history of the former Loran-C navigation transmitter that once guided sailors in this very basin.