This is perhaps unsurprising when you consider it is home to many established resorts that have attracted tourists for decades, as well as ever popular Barcelona being within easy reach of the coastal hotspots.

Catalonia has a unique culture, distinguished from other Spanish regions in several aspects – not least by the widely spoken Catalonian language, although locals also speak and understand Castilian Spanish perfectly. It is one of the most cosmopolitan places in Spain, thanks to a tradition of international commerce. The Costa Brava is one of the most famous Spanish coasts, stretching 160-kilometres from the north of Barcelona over the province of Girona. The Costa Brava has plenty of beaches, a mild climate and established tourist hotspots – highlights include the town of Figueres, which draws crowds mainly because it was the birthplace of painter Salvador Dali, the main attraction being a museum featuring some of his best works.

Whilst part of the Costa Brava coastline has leant itself to tourist developments on a large scale, other parts have retained a more traditional look for those visitors and investors who want a little more than sun, sand and sangria. The coast between Roses and Tossa de Mar has many delightful small coastal towns such as Pals, Begur, Tamariu, Llafranc, L'Estartit, Aigua Blava, Fornells, Calella de Palafrugell, Palamós and Sant Feliu de Guixols. In 1998, the coastal towns of the Costa Brava signed a charter agreeing to pursue environmental protection along with tourism. This means the area is less at risk of overdevelopment than elsewhere in Spain. Additionally, the Illes Mede group of islets off the coast of L'Estartit have become Spain's first maritime nature reserve – providing a home to a wide range of fish and aquatic flora, attracting many divers to the area in the process. In short, the 'Rugged Coast' is a beautiful stretch of coastline that is easily accessible from the UK, and it has an established tourist trade. "Tourism demand in the area is high so rental returns are high," Tom Maidment of Lucas Fox property comments. "Even where properties are only being let for peak summer months property owners should still cover their costs."

Being a popular destination means that, though property may be more expensive than in less developed regions, the infrastructure and links to the region are already well established. Girona airport is just half an hour from the coast and is one of the fastest-growing airports in Spain. During 2007 just under five million passengers passed through the airport (an increase of nearly 1.5 million visitors over 2006) with over 45,000 flights being handled. Barcelona and Perpignan airports are also less than 120 kilometres away. "The opening of the new AVE (high-speed rail link) from Barcelona to the French border in the next couple of years will also be a boon for the area," Maidment adds. "The Madrid to Barcelona link opened in February – with a journey time of two hours 43 minutes – and in the coming years you will be able to travel from Madrid to Girona in a little over 3 hours. The journey from Girona to Paris should be less than 6 hours and this should further expose the area to potential investors."

The main road linking the AP7 motorway to the coast has also been redeveloped in the past few years. A new dual carriageway is due to open fully this summer, cutting the journey time from Girona Airport and Barcelona significantly. Plans are also afoot to develop a similarly fast stretch of road north of La Bisbal d'Emporda – linking Girona city to the coast. This should make a significant difference to journey times in the peak summer months.

So, how are local property prices fairing amidst talk of downturns in the global economy?
"Prices have remained fairly steady over the past year, though there has been a slowdown in the last few months," admits Maidment. "The days of double digit capital appreciation are behind us and anyone expecting significant short term returns is going to be disappointed. "However so far there has been no evidence of the wholesale drop in property prices reported by the British press. The market in the Costa Brava is pretty robust and a very different market to the southern coasts where supply appears to have outstripped demand. Here that's not the case – planning laws are much tougher – and that's a big factor in maintaining the value of real estate." Ultimately, the state of the European and global economy will doubtless have an effect on the Costa Brava property market, but investors should remember that the same will apply to property prices the world over.

So, what are the prime hotspots on the Costa Brava, and which areas are the rising stars for property investment?
"The prime hotspots are the medieval town of Begur and some of the surrounding coastal villages such as Tamariu, Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell," says Maidment. "Here the spectacular rugged coastline is punctuated by beautiful sandy coves with crystal-clear waters and picturesque white painted fishing villages – without a high-rise in sight. It is a far cry from the overcrowded, overdeveloped towns further south – such as Tossa del Mar and Lloret de Mar – which became the focus of mass tourism in the 60s and 70s.

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Article published 29 April 2008