Languedoc Roussillon and around.

A lazy day by the pool with a good book from the site library.  A slow amble to Barcares for a look around the market (highly recommended) followed by a light lunch at one of the numerous cafes in the village.  Hire a bicycle from Reception and wander the numerous cycle paths around the site and in particular the one alongside the river as it meanders to the sea.  Or is it a day for exploring Languedoc Roussillon?

Leucate

Leucate, just 10 minutes away by car with its beautiful marina, cliff-top walk and the Phase du Cap Leucate from where on a clear day you can see the whole French Mediterranean coast to the Spanish border.

Canigou Mountain (pictured at top of this page)

The Canigou Mountain is visible from the site and is less than an hours car journey away.  It is at the eastern end of the Pyrenees and is 2784 metres high.  For the locals it is much more than just a mountain - it is also considered to be the spiritual home of Catalan and people from the French Catalan and Spanish Catalonia regions gather here for the summer solstice.  It is a reasonably straightforward hike, achievable by anybody in good health.  The views from the summit on a clear day are extraordinary.  Look out for the Abbey Saint Martin at Saint Martin-du-Canigou perched high on a rocky peak at the base of the mountain.  A lovely tranquil spot.

Collioure

Collioure is a steady 40 minutes drive from the site and is an idyllic resort, nestling in an authentic Catalan harbour.  You can count on having a splendid swim in one of its many coves or a very pleasant few hours wandering the streets of this beautiful historic town.  Parking is much easier if you arrive relatively early in the morning.

Typical street in Collioure with a glimpse of sea between the building

Castelnous

This village, 20km, south west of Perpignan is often referred to as the most beautiful village of France.  The village sits in the shadow of the 10th century castle that towers above, and to enter the village you pass through a large stone archway, dating from the 16th century, that is part of the fortifications that were at that time erected around the village.  The narrow cobbled streets of Castelnous are impossible to walk along without having a sense of the thousands who have already passed the same way - a real step back in time.

Barcelona

For me, this is probably the finest city in the world, and is only a two hour drive from Perpignan.  Las Ramblas, a beautiful, tree-lined pedestrian boulevard, packed with buskers, living statues, a noisy bird market, the 19th century Opera House, terminating at the Monument to Columbus at the Harbour.  Also well worth a visit are Barri Gotic, a concentration of medieval Gothic buildings.  The Museum Picasso is a 'must visit', but then so is La Sagranda Familia, a truly awe-inspiring unfinished cathedral.  For sports fans, can any visit to  Barcelona leave out a trip to Camp Nou, the home of the Barcelona Football Club?

Andorra

Andorra is almost hidden on the border between France and Spain.  In a land of narrow valleys and mountainous landscapes, it is an awe-inspiring three and a half hour journey from the site.  An estimated 10 million people visit each year for its fantastic summer climate and shopping in the many duty-free outlets.

Andorra nestling in the Pyrenees

Northern Spain

If time permits, you must visit some of the resorts of Northern Spain on the bay of Roses or a little further south to the unspoilt coastal villages of Tamariu and Calella de Palafrugell.

Le Petit Train Jaune (pictured below)

A 'must' for all families visiting this area.  The line of the 'Little Yellow Train' climbs dramatically from the village of Villefranche de Conflent, which is less than an hour away from the site.  It is 63 km long and has 19 tunnels and 2 remarkable bridges and includes a visit to Bolquere which is the highest station in France at 1593 metres above sea level.  Some of the views on route are truly wonderful.

Perpigan

A sunny city of palm-lined squares, this is an excellent centre for shopping and sight-seeing.  The Palais des Rois de Majorque was originally the King's residence during the twelfth and fourteenth centuries and it beautiful gardens which make is well worth a visit.  For an idea of Perpignan's prosperous past, take a wander through the narrow lanes of the Saint-Jean quarter and see the splendour of the centuries old mansions and stately homes which make up this atmospheric part of the town.  The Jardin de Saint Vicens are on Rue Saint Vicens and are not only full of exotic orange trees and oleanders, but they're also the place to look for ceramic pots and textiles which are on sale here.

Perpignan by night

Food and Drink

Whenever you are travelling in the area around Perpignan, you must taste the wines of this Roussillon area.  The Muscat, the Banyuls and Cotes de Roussillon.  Similarly, the excellent restaurants in and around Perpignan offer some wonderful, reasonably priced food.  If you've never tried escargots, this is the place to do it.  Catalan-style snails come covered in garlic.  Salted smoked hams, richly stuffed sausages, salted or sugared flatbreads are other delicious local delicacies.