We sailed on to a nice and large marina at Sant Carles de la Rapita in the Delta de L'Ebre, where they grow rice and flamingos visit. On the way we passed a wonderful looking castle on a promontory, looking a bit like Mont Saint Michel. So we decided to have a day lay-over and get a car back to explore the castle and the old fortified town clustered around it. The beach to its north is a very popular holiday spot - there seemed to be thousands of people in the water and on the beach.

The castle was built by the Knights Templar in the late 13th century on the foundations of an Arab fortress. The castle has been beautifully restored, particularly when you think it was attacked during the destruction of the Templar order, during the Spanish succession war, the Peninsular War, and the Spanish Civil War. The schismatic Pope, Papa de Luna, fled to the castle from Avignon at the end of the 14th century and although deposed in 1414, he lived in the castle till his death in 1423. He authorised the establishment of St Andrews University in Scotland and there is a plaque there, put up by the university alumni to commemorate the fact.
The castle has a Norman church with tower attached, and a lovely garden, full of date palms, on several levels. And "El Cid" was filmed in the castle.

We went to dinner at Miama, recommended by many sources. The restaurant was on the lovely esplanade around a pool, and the lobster risotto and the mixed fish grill were very good, as was the Spanish Sauvignon Blanc and Smirnoff sorbet.

Then on to Puerto l'Ampolla, navigating through many fish and mussel farms and fishing nets. A late arrival and then a lovely meal in the cockpit.