a frontier town of Spain, province of Gerona, and 20 miles W.N.W. of the town of that name. It is a straggling town, situated in a rich plain of olives and rice. The citadel is an irregular pentagonal structure on the principles of Vauban, and is considered one of the strongest fortresses in Europe. It was built by Ferdinand VI., and has accommodation, magazines, &c., for 16,000 men. The buildings inside the walls are all bomb-proof, and the natural adaptation of its situation has been so taken advantage of that trenches can scarcely be opened on any side, the ground being everywhere rocky. It has, however, been several times captured; as by the French in 1808, 1811, and 1823. Figueras has manufactures of leather and paper, and some trade with France. Pop. 8,352.