What types of country houses can you buy in Alt Empordà?
Alt Empordà offers a wide range of country properties, from grand restored estates to characterful masías awaiting renovation.
Grand restored farmhouses with extensive land – multi-bedroom estates on large plots, fully modernised while keeping original character
Village houses – traditional homes in town centres with several bedrooms, terraces and flexible living spaces
Masías to renovate with exclusive estates – substantial rural properties sold with large land holdings, ready for restoration
Single-floor country houses – contemporary layouts on generous plots, often with garaging and easy accessibility
Farmhouses with pool and garden – restored properties finished with swimming pools, terraces and modern amenities
Sustainable and off-grid farmhouses – properties fitted with solar panels, biomass heating and private well water
Historic farmhouses with wellness and leisure annexes – centuries-old main houses paired with renovated annexes for gyms, saunas or multipurpose use
Large country estates – country houses set on multi-hectare plots offering privacy and scale
If a restored masía or country house you're considering in Alt Empordà isn't a fit, we also list country houses in need of renovation in Alt Empordà and village houses in Alt Empordà. Not every property we sell appears in our public listings – get in touch and we can share off-market options that match what you're looking for.
What should you check before buying a country house in Alt Empordà?
Buying a masía in Alt Empordà is a legal, planning, technical and renovation decision – not just a question of finding a beautiful property. Before you commit, four areas need checking, and we handle all of them for you.
Legal and registral checks – nota simple, existing charges or mortgages, easements and rights of way, and discrepancies between the Land Registry and Catastro records.
Planning and permitted use – suelo no urbanizable status, the municipal catàleg de masies, which determines whether and how a property can be legally rehabilitated, and permitted uses under local planning rules. In Alt Empordà, proximity to protected spaces such as the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà or Cap de Creus natural parks can also affect what's possible.
Condition and habitability – structural, roof, damp and installations inspections, the cèdula d'habitabilitat, and checks on water supply, wells, drainage and flood risk.
Renovation feasibility and cost – what can realistically be restored, the conditions attached, and the likely cost involved.
We guide buyers through all four areas as part of our legal and planning checks service.
How Cottage Properties helps you buy a country house in Alt Empordà
Cottage Properties guides buyers through every stage of a masía purchase, from first viewing to completion and beyond.
Legal and planning checks – confirming ownership, registral status and permitted use before you commit
Purchase and negotiation strategy – representing your interests through offer, negotiation and completion
Technical inspections – coordinating structural, habitability and water/drainage assessments
Renovation planning – advising on what's realistically achievable within local planning rules
Ongoing support – remaining a point of contact well after the purchase completes
Local knowledge of Alt Empordà's planning landscape, including experience navigating catàleg de masies queries with ajuntaments across the comarca
What separates a specialist rural agency from a general estate agent is depth: we don't just list masías, we understand the legal, planning and technical layers that decide whether a purchase is viable. Read our 5-step guide to buying a country house in Catalonia or explore our full range of services for buyers.
Free basic renovation proposal for your country house
Cottage Properties is the only estate agency specialising in masías in Catalonia with its own in-house team for the rehabilitation of rural property. Wherever you're looking in Alt Empordà, we can offer a free basic renovation proposal for any masía you're considering.
Our co-director, Pere Crosas, is Lead Architect at sister company Cottage Architecture. His credits include the renovation of El Celler de Can Roca, Girona – for years ranked among the best restaurants in the world.
As part of the free proposal, we provide:
Quantity surveyor support – an initial assessment of scope and structural condition
Guidance on costs, challenges and options – tailored to local planning rules and the property's condition
A basic renovation project – a starting point for turning a restoration into a realistic plan
Alt Empordà's masías often feature local stone construction and traditional timber roof structures – restoring these elements properly takes specialist knowledge, which is exactly what our in-house team brings. Read more in our guide to restoring a masía in Spain: permits and steps, or find out more about our free restoration proposal.
Off-market country houses for sale in Alt Empordà
Not every masía we sell appears in our public listings. We handle a number of off-market sales in Alt Empordà, including luxury country estates, masías of historical importance, and discreet sales for well-known owners who prefer not to list publicly.
If you're looking for something specific and haven't found it in our off-market portfolio, contact us and we'll let you know what's available.
About Cottage Properties
Cottage Properties Antic Village S.L. is a leading estate agency in Catalonia specialising in masías and rural heritage property. Registered with AICAT under nº 11057 and based in Navata, Girona, the team brings over 30 years of combined experience finding, restoring and preserving Catalan country houses.
Cottage is directed by Àngels Sabater Anell, one of the most recognised voices in Catalan rural property. Her work has featured in the national and international press, including TV3's coverage of the Can Morgat estate in Pla de l'Estany, Canal Decasa's feature on Mas dels Arbres in the Cap de Creus Natural Park, and The Olive Press.
Find out more about our team.
Find your country house in Alt Empordà
To arrange a viewing, simply request one via the form on the property page. One of our agents will respond within one working day. You can also call our office on 872 009 515 or request a consultation.
We also sell masías and country houses in Baix Empordà, Pla de l'Estany, and La Selva, as well as across the whole of Girona province and Catalonia.
If the country house you're looking for in Alt Empordà isn't in our public listings or off-market portfolio, we activate our local network of other agencies and trusted collaborators to find it, with the same specialist Cottage service throughout.
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