The ancient city of Girona is ideally situated in Catalunya, with the rugged coastline of the Costa Brava a short distance away, the French border less than an hour's drive and Barcelona 90 minutes to the south. The city is bisected by the river Onyar, which separates the modern city, rich on coal mining and other industries, from the narrow cobbled streets and steep starways of the old town. Built right on the banks of the Onyar are ochre coloured houses, forming a colourful parade. The river is spanned by several bridges, including one by Gustav Eiffel, responsible for the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the design of New York's Statue of Liberty.