Bordering France and Andorra the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia has a rich and varied landscape and a rich and varied history. Containing a sizeable section of the Pyrenees mountains, Catalonia experiences a wide variety of climates from the snow covered mountain peaks with some well known ski resorts, to sun kissed seaside resorts on the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada with a warm Mediteranean climate, so Catalonia weather cannot be easily categorised, visitors are advised to check the conditions for their exact location before travelling. Catalonia covers an area of about 32,000 square kilometres and has a population of over seven million, it is divided into 4 provinces, namely Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona and the largest Lleida. Catalonia has been settled over the centuries by Iberians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors before being established as a Christian domain as Moors were driven out by the Franks in the 8th and 9th centuries. Catalonia developed Spain’s first true industry as Barcelona factories produced cotton made from material imported from the Americas during Spain’s Golden Age, it is still the most industrialized region of Spain. These days Catalonia is a prime destination for tourists, most of whom head for the coastal resorts of the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada or the fantastic city of Barcelona with its many attractions, others may enjoy some skiing in the Pyrenees, walking in the Vall d’Aran or visiting one of the fine natural parks, such as the Aiguestortes National Park. Whatever your interests you will surely find something to attract you in the multi-faceted Spanish region of Catalonia. Catalonia Map.
September 1, 2009
August 26, 2009
The Costa Brava Town of Blanes
Located in the region of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain, the town and resort of Blanes is popular with both Spanish and International holidaymakers having a 4 kilometre stretch of coastline with plenty of fine sandy beaches and a number of pretty coves and bays. Originally a small fishing village, Blanes is now a busy resort albeit quieter than some of its Costa Brava neighbours, its seafront is lined with high-rise apartment blocks and hotels, though remains of the old town still remind visitors of its former charm. Blanes experiences a typical Costa Brava climate with beautiful sunny, warm summers and somewhat cooler winters, the weather in Blanes can generally be relied on to be fine from June to September. One of the Costa Brava’s best known resorts Blanes is only 30 kilometres from the nearest airport at Girona. Blanes Map.
Olot and Besalu Girona
Two interesting inland towns of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain are Besalu and Olot, both worth a visit for their own merits Besalu and Olot are both within the comarca of Garrotxa and are in fact the former and present capitals of that district. Besalu, though only a small town with a population of just over 2,000, was formerly of great importance for the region and was controlled by a dynasty begun by Wilfred the Hairy for over 200 years. Settled by Romans, Visigoths, Franks and various other cultures Besalu has some very ancient buildings worth visiting, the landmark of the town is the eleventh century fortified bridge which crosses the River Fluvia at the entrance to the town, this unique bridge has a fortified gatehouse and a portcullis.Besalu became a Historic national Monument in 1966 and many of its buildings have been restored to their former glory. Olot, to the west of Besalu is the current capital of the Garotxa district and was very important for textile manufacture during the 18th and 19th centuries. The demands of the textile industry encouraged the forming of the Olot School of art, which was founded by a group of local artists whose work can be seen in the Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa. Both towns are well inland from the Costa Brava coastline and experience a considerably different climate from the coast, in fact Olot weather can be very cold during the winter with possibilities of snow and temperatures often verging on freezing, the Garrotxa region also experiences more rainfall with around forty inches per year. Catalonia Map.
August 19, 2009
Begur Costa Brava
Begur Costa Brava – One of the prettiest towns on the Costa Brava, the historic Begur is overlooked by its sixteenth century castle which was built to warn of pirate attacks. The narrow cobbled streets of the old town are lined with charming fishermen’s cottages, making this a desirable place to visit.
Within the province of Girona, Begur has a population of 3,986, although this of course rises considerably during the busy summer months when large numbers of visitors arrive, in particular from the city of Barcelona. Tourists are attracted by the ancient charm of the old town and the superb nearby beaches, which are amongst the best in the region, they also visit to enjoy the fine climate experienced during the summer with Begur weather being mostly warm and sunny from May to October, though somewhat cooler during the winter months.
The main form of accommodation in Begur is privately owned holiday villas, which is a fantastic way to spend your holiday in the resort. There are some wonderful detached villas, most with private pools and sea views.
Begur is located on the GI-653 and is situated between the better known resorts of Calella and Estartit. Begur Street Map.
You can view some holiday villas in and around Begur here: Costa Brava Rentals.