by Caroline Hill
Judging by the amount of cars parked on pavements, across zebra crossings and on yellow lines it seems that nobody likes to pay to park – but the risk of finding a penalty notice on the windscreen or having your car towed away is extremely high. Last year nearly 50,000 fines were issued in Perpignan alone. Here is a guide to parking around the region (with grateful thanks to ‘La Semaine du Roussillon’ for the research):
PERPIGNAN
There are 9 main Car Parks in the town, with varying tariffs & opening hours:
Parking Clemenceau – 448 Places
Parking Republique – 318 Places
Parking Wilson – 498 Places
Parking Saint Martin – 300 Places
Parking de La Gare (Cote Nouvelle Gare) – 950 Places
Parking de La Gare (Cote Ancienne Gare) – 136 Places
Parking Arago – 535 Places
Parking Catalogne – 290 Places
Central Parking – 487 Places
There are also 3 ‘levels’ of parking meter zones – the colour is indicated on the meter:
Zone Orange – 1,50euro per hour, maximum of 2 hours.
Zone Verte – 0,90 euro per hour, maximum of 2 hours
Zone Jaune – 1 euro for half-a-day, maximum of one day.
These yellow zones can be found at:
Avenue Torcatis – north entrance of Pont Joffre
Rue Pierre Dupon – along the river near Pont Joffre
Place des Esplanades – the triangular square by the military barracks
Avenue du Lycee – along Lycee Arago
Avenue Henri Ribere – by the Quai de Hanovre & the rail track
Rue Frederic Valette – between the old station and the Avenue de Grande Bretagne
AMELIE-LES-BAINS
Three main car parks with varying tariffs and opening hours.
There are also 2 zones of metered parking in the town centre.
ARGELES-SUR-MER
Free unlimited parking in the village (except for Place Gambetta and by the Route National where the time is limited to 1 hour 30 minutes).
At the beach, parking is free in Winter. In summer the Parking du Port will be 3 euros per day and Parking des Platanes will be 1,60euros per hour from 19h – midnight.
BAGES
Free parking throughout.
BANYULS-SUR-MER
Parking fees in force from 1st June to 30th September. 600 metered places (around 1 euro per hour). There are two free car parks in the centre.
BOMPAS
Free parking throughout – except for a Blue Zone in the village centre (Ave. Marechal Joffre) with a 20 minute time limit.
CABESTANY
Free unlimited parking except for certain zones, i.e. outside the Mairie (15mins maximum).
CANET-EN-ROUSSILLON
There are two underground car-parks, with varying tariffs, Parking Mediterranee & Parking du Balcon du Front du Mer.
The main beachfront Parking de la Cote Vermeille is free all winter but from 15th June – 15th September there is a charge.
There is metred parking at the Port and the Market. All other parking is free.
CERET
Most of the parking is free. There is a Zone Bleu limited to 1 hour 30 minutes and discs can be obtained from the Mairie or the Tourist Office
CANOHES
Free parking throughout
CLAIRA
Free parking throughout
COLLIOURE
5 metered parking areas around the town – but less than 300 spaces available.
Car Parks: One by the Chateau (300 spaces) and two near the Station (around 250 spaces). Cost 1,50 euros per hour, 3,20 euros for 3 hours. There is also a parking area below Le Stade (250 spaces) at just 2 euros for the day.
ELNE
Free parking throughout – but some spaces only offer a 45 minute wait so do check. There are also 3 car parks, with varying fees.
ILLE-SUR-TET
There is a Car Park on the main square – first hour is free, then 1 euro per hour. There is also free parking at the station.
LE BARCARES
Free parking throughout – except for some Blue zones.
LE BOULOU
Free parking throughout – even in the car parks. There are some Blue Zones on the main street.
LE SOLER
Free parking throughout – except for several places around the Mairie and the central shops where there is a 15 minute time limit.
MILLAS
Free parking throughout
PIA
Free parking throught – except for a Zone Bleu with a one hour time limit on Avenue Joffre opposite the shops.
POLLESTRES
Free parking throughout
PORT-VENDRES
Car park at Place de l’Obelisque is free in winter but from 1st April to 30th September there is a charge. There is metered parking around the Quays and two large free car parks.
PRADES
There is a car park in the centre of town – the first 30 minutes is free. There is also a Blue Zone around the town centre.
RIVESALTES
Mainly free parking except for certain metred areas – but the first hour is free.
SAINT-LAURENT-DE-LA-SALANQUE
Mainly free parking throughout except for certain ‘Blue Zones’ in the centre of the village where time is limited to one hour.
SAINT-MARIE
Free parking throughout
SALEILLES
Free parking throughout
THUIR
Free parking throughout – except for 20 ‘Blue Zone’ spaces with a 30 minute time limit.
TOULOUGES
Free parking throughout
VILLENEUVE-DE-LA-RAHO
Free parking throughout.
in Rivesaltes there is a huge new carpark behind the H de Ville
Free