This month we’re heading up to to the mountain towns of Font Romeu and Les Angles, with a couple of stops en route to explore the historic walled towns of Villefranche and Mont Louis.
This poem is said to be the first Valentine written in any language. The spelling has been modernised. The translation is based on Charles d’Orleans’ own version.
Painted in the Catalan colours of ‘sang et or’ (blood red and gold), le petit train jaune was built at the beginning of the century in order to link the towns and villages high up in the mountains with Perpignan and Prades, the principal administrative towns. It links Villefranche-de-Conflent with La Tour de Carol, is 63 km long, and made up of wooden compartments with bench seating.
This late winter, early spring Catalan tradition can leave you in a fine old mess
Next time you’re out for a stroll, try a form of “conscious walking”: to play detective, hunting for insights into the plants and animals that share our beautiful landscape.
Follow in the footsteps of the Retirada on this day out through Las Illas, La Vajol and along the Chemin de l’Exil.