Sights of Begur

The beautiful residence on top of the Cap Sa Sal cape in Begur is a former hotel, for the longest time one of the leading competitors of Hostal La Gavina in S’Agaro to host celebrities visiting the Costa Brava coast. The hotel was opened on July 4, 1963, after a prolonged construction period that lasted eight years, and closed down at the end of the 1970s when it became clear that its average annual revenue was too low to maintain the luxurious presentation of the premises.

Today, the building has multiple owners that rent out their expensive apartments either directly or with the help of management companies. The facade of the building doesn’t betray this fact and eagerly attracts the gaze of onlookers observing the coast from the Begur township of Sa Tuna.

The main sight of Begur — the Begur castle, Castell de Begur — is perfectly visible from every observation point in town. It pops up here and there on photos and videos that often mean to capture completely different things!

The castle was built in the 11th century by the feudal lord who wanted to protect his property from bloodthirsty pirates and jealous neighbours. Strategically speaking, the castle was ideally located to be easily defensible and thus, from that moment on, participated and suffered greatly in each armed conflict that befell the town, until it was destroyed completely in 1810 by the army of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The extensive restorations of the 20th century only concerned the outer walls of the Begur castle, which was enough for the town to get its symbol back. Restoring the interiors was deemed unnecessary, as its most prized possession — the beautiful panoramic views of the mountains and the sea — couldn’t be taken away by even the most powerful enemy. Instead, the municipality outfitted the castle with a convenient observation deck for the visitors and tourists.

The visitors’ surprise and disappointment — where is the actual castle, pray tell? — quickly gives way to wonder and awe at the views. A circular ceramic map on a cylindrical pedestal introduces visitors to the local geography and helps pinpoint the beautiful elements of the landscape you see below: the islands Illes Medes, the Pyrenean peak El Canigó, the easternmost border of the Iberian peninsula Cap de Creus, the resort towns of the Costa Brava like Palamós and L’Estartit, the coves Sa Riera and Sa Tuna…

Phone: 650 323 849

Found in Begur just a short walk from Platja de l’Illa Roja beach, the hotel and restaurant Sa Punta is one of those places that not only never disappoint but also welcome you with open arms all year round. It is a rare spot in the Costa Brava indeed. Low season? Winter? Monday? Tuesday? The restaurant is open and you are always received as if they have been waiting just for you to show.

Let’s get the food out of the way first — it is consistently great. The menu is relatively short, only two pages — chef’s suggestions (“Sugerencias”) for appetizers and main courses, fish dishes, meat dishes. The menu changes only slightly, with a sprinkling of variety by way of seasonal ingredients and regional delicacies that the chef of Sa Punta incorporates into the menu at every opportunity. You will find fresh coastal fish, prime cuts of Girona meat, the house specialties (steak tartare and duck cannelloni) any day of the year. The dessert menu is similarly short yet tantalizing.

Dining at Sa Punta is a great experience during the quiet winter months when the tourist rush slows down. It is incredibly relaxing thanks to the great wait staff, most of whom have been there for decades. It is very quiet because the beautiful dining room tends to absorb sound into its carpet floors and white linen table cloth. In warmer weather, you can dine on the terrace overlooking the garden and the swimming pool, illuminated at night.

Expect to be treated kindly and attentively. Expect an amuse-bouche and freshly baked bread rolls whose selection changes from day to day to start your meal. Expect to hear your server talk about each dish you are about to enjoy, in Spanish, English and quite possibly in French.

Expect also to be a little intimidated by the extensive, well-curated wine list that focuses on DO Empordà and other Spanish wine regions, but doesn’t shy away from international (read: French) wines albeit with a heftier price tag. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, as the sommelier would be delighted to help you.

Expect a wonderful evening out at Sa Punta, at any rate.

Visitor information
Address: Carrer Sa Punta des Forn, 20 | 17255, Begur, Girona
Phone: +34 972 636 410, +34 972 667 376
Web: https://www.hotelsapunta.com/restaurante/
Opening hours: 1 pm to 3:30 pm and 8 pm to 10:30 pm daily.
Parking: Yes
Reservations: Highly recommended. Call to reserve or fill out the reservation form online.

The estate Can Sora was built in 1870 by the commission of Josep Cama Rovira who had recently returned from emigration to Havana.

The interiors of the estate still contain frescoes with romantic stories of sea adventures and southern countries. The front door grid has the initials of the first house owner — JC.

A Begur native, Bonaventura Caner Bataller is a typical indiano: after emigrating to Cuba in 1845, he came back to Spain and built a luxurious Neoclassical house for himself in 1866.

Bonaventura Bataller invested a part of the wealth made overseas into the local production of cork.

Josep Forment Pi emigrated to Havana in 1845 and returned in 1866, immediately commissioning a beautiful house for himself.

The house facade is made in Neoclassical style with carved stone decorations on the ground floor and the pilasters running along the second and the third floors. Balcony banisters have the owner’s initials, JFP.

The house of Sebastián Puig Carreras was built in 1872. Mr. Carreras had never left his motherland for foreign riches, but his home still has notable exotic and Indian motives.

A Neoclassical-style house for the indiano Josep Pi Carreras was built in Begur in 1860.

Mr. Carreras opened a bakery and a grocery store called La Industrial in Havana together with his brother Pedro. When he got rich, he returned to Catalonia from Cuba.

The back side of the house still has its original gallery with garden views.