Begur castle, Sa Tuna & Tamariu.

We took a short drive up the coast yesterday to the area around Begur, first visiting the the castle of Begur which looks out all over the coast and also the countryside and mountains beyond. At this time of year the mountains are covered in snow which is always a great site to see, especially when we can still get very mild temperatures of between 15-20c on the coast!

This short video shows the amazing views we captured.

A trip to Pals

Pals is a lovely little medieval town and always worth a visit even through the cold winter months. You will always find some of the little shops and restaurants/cafes open where you can pop in for a hot coffee if it does get a bit too cold as you walk around its  beautiful cobbled streets.

  

 There was lots of snow on the mountains in the distance when we visited just yesterday. (Monday 2nd Feb)

We're surrounded by snow in Lloret

 On the road to Girona today we had some beautiful views of the snow covered mountains in the distance...but in Vidreres it was an unbelievable 20c!...... the photos were actually taken from the car window as we were travelling.

Bad weather in Spain

 Winter temperatures in Spain are forecast to take a sharp drop over the coming few days with bad weather warnings issued to nearly 40 provinces through the country, the warnings are for heavy rain, snow, gales and freezing temperatures. Today however in Lloret after such a long period of sunny days and very little rain we have a dull rainy day with a current temp of 6ºc...so not as bad as some places!

This weekends photos from Lloret and Fenals beach.

Ripoll & Gombrén

Heading towards the Pyrenees just a little over 100 km from Lloret is the fairly large town of Ripoll surrounded by some lovely little villages and set in amazing countryside, very popular with hikers and rock climbers. Ripoll town centre is a good shopping area with an abundance of cafes, restaurants which cater for its 11,000 + population.  The Pyrenees can be seen in the not too far distance from Ripoll and just now are covered in snow so you also have great views of the snow capped mountains.

One of the nearby villages is Gombrén where set in the hills is the ancient monastery - Santuari de Montgrony which is first documented in the year of 899 and rebuilt in the 12 century. 

Catalunya Villages - Pubol

 Another well worth visit if your travelling around the Catalan countryside is Pubol where the famous artist/surrealist Dali once lived, so there is a small museum of his works of art you can visit. Pubol is a typical very well kept village with narrow cobbled streets and just a few small gift shops and restaurants again only about a 1hr drive from Lloret. From here you have fantastic views of the surrounding countryside and Pyrenees mountains which just now are still covered in snow!

Catalan Towns near Lloret

 Places to visit near to Lloret de Mar

Not far from the Costa Brava coast are a number of beautiful medieval villages, and two friends of mine Svein and Mercè  recently told me about the one pictured here - Peratallada, and in the words of Mercé "Its absolutely gorgeous!"

On the way to Peratallada you have stunning mountain views which just now are still covered in snow, and after arriving at this gorgeous little town you will find not only is it free parking but there are so many typical Catalan restaurants that you are spoilt for choice of where to have lunch!  

Only about a one hour drive from Lloret de Mar and you can be taking a leisurely stroll through these pretty little streets of this well kept medieval town!