The history of the Jewish community of Girona ended in 1492, when the Catholic Kings expelled all the Jews from Spain. Today, the Jewish ghetto or Call is one of the best preserved in Europe and is a major tourist attraction.

On the north side of the old city is the Montjuïc (or hill of the Jews in medieval Catalan), where an important religious cemetery was located. Girona has undergone twenty-five sieges and been captured seven times.

It was besieged by the French royal armies under Marshal Hocquisicourt in 1653, under Marshal Bellefonds in 1684, and twice in 1694 under de Noailles. In May, 1809, it was besieged by 35,000 French Napoleonic troops under Vergier, Augereau and St. Cyr, and held out obstinately under the leadership of Alvarez until disease and famine compelled it to capitulate, 12 December.

Finally, the French conquered the city in 1809, after 7 months of siege. The defensive city walls were demolished in the final of the 19th century to allow for the expansion of the city.

Girona landmarks include Saint Mary's Cathedral and the Passeig de la Muralla Enlarge Girona landmarks include Saint Mary's Cathedral and the Passeig de la Muralla. In recent years, the remaining parts of the eastern city walls were reconstructed and now the Passeig de la Muralla forms a touristic walking route around the old city.