One of the fourteen original countships of Catalonia in the eight century, the Girona of today is a great mix of historically interesting old and vibrant lively new, all within easy walking distance.
The beginning of autumn (September) brings out the Forums des Associations in every town and village throughout the region so get out there and join the club!
Disney and Dali collaborated in 1945 to produce Destino, a short wordless film set to a Spanish song, featuring a ballerina in a desert landscape.
Whether you’re for or against the hunt, its presence is inescapable in the P-O.
Picture the gods cleaving the earth with a monstrous axe and you have the spectacular Gorges de Galamus.
Walk east from Place de la République in Perpignan and you will arrive at the inner-city neighbourhood of St Jacques, a lively, colourful mix of native French, North Africans and Gitanes.
The French fire brigade, les sapeurs pompiers, are not just called out for fires. Trained and equipped to deal with medical emergencies, they are very often the first responders to be called for both road and domestic emergency medical situations.
A lovely day out on the motorbike in this spectacular region, this short circuit is combined with a visit to a fascinating old Priory, Prieuré de Serrabona, hidden in the hills.
House of the Rising Sun or Le Pénitencier, sung here in French by Johnny Hallyday
Wild boar (sanglier) hunts or ‘battues’ have turned many a peaceful Sunday walk into a nightmare for innocent ramblers.