BEGUR Costa Brava

This hilltop town with a ruined 15th century castle could make a good base for exploring the rocky coves around Aiguablava . Narrow streets fan out from the church square, and you can climb to the castle for marvelous views stretching north along the coastline as far as the Bay of Roses. In recent years, Begur has grown in popularity and a rash of new holiday villas and apartments has contributed to a sense of urban sprawl, with fears that the medieval centre could be overwhelmed by development. Nevertheless, it remains a quiet and peaceful place, popular with Catalan weekenders.