This Autumn & Winter in the Pyrénées-Orientales
Looking for something a little different to do in the Pyrénées-Orientales this autumn? The Département has put together a programme of events running from September through December, with a particular emphasis on local heritage, culture, nature, photography and the Catalan identity of the region.
We’ve picked out some of the events that should be especially appealing to English speakers, French learners and anyone wanting to discover a little more about the area.
There are plenty of other events taking place independently around the region of course, but these are the ones highlighted by the Département — and several are well worth putting in the diary.
September: Heritage, photography and the great outdoors
Discover Paulilles
The spectacular Anse de Paulilles, between Port-Vendres and Banyuls-sur-Mer, is one of the Département’s star heritage sites.
Throughout September there are guided visits of the site, including a fascinating theatrical tour, “Sur les pas de Jeanne, ouvrière à Paulilles”, which takes visitors back to the 1950s and the working life of the former Nobel dynamite factory.
There are also visits to the Atelier des barques, where traditional Catalan boats are still being restored by marine carpenters.
When: Throughout September
Where: Site classé de l’Anse de Paulilles, Port-Vendres
Cost: Guided visits from €4, with reduced rates available.
This is a particularly good choice for French learners: you get a mixture of history, local vocabulary and a genuinely beautiful setting.
European Heritage Days — 19 & 20 September
The Journées Européennes du Patrimoine are probably the biggest dates in this programme.
On 19 and 20 September, nine Département sites are opening their doors with free admission and special activities. The national theme for 2026 is photography and heritage at risk.
Among the highlights:
- Archives départementales in Perpignan — exhibitions, guided tours of normally closed conservation areas, and a cyanotype photography workshop.
- Château royal de Collioure — themed guided visits, photography activities, exhibitions and evening visits.
- Palais des rois de Majorque in Perpignan — short guided tours, talks about the restoration of the historic castle, photography activities and a treasure hunt.
- Château de Castelnou — guided visits, exhibitions and a musical storytelling session.
- Prieuré de Serrabona — exhibitions, Romanesque painting and sculpture workshops, photography and a concert.
- Paulilles — activities centred around traditional boats and the site’s industrial and maritime heritage.
- Thémis Solaire Innovation at Targasonne — visits and hands-on activities exploring solar energy.
Tip for French learners: this is an excellent opportunity to practise listening to French in a relaxed setting — and you can choose something where the subject matter gives you plenty of visual clues.
October: castles, mysteries and Catalan heritage
Free Sundays at three historic sites
On Sunday 4 October, admission is free at three of the Département’s major historic sites:
- Château royal de Collioure
- Palais des rois de Majorque, Perpignan
- Prieuré de Serrabona
A useful date to remember if you’ve been meaning to visit one of them.
A different side of Paulilles
The guided visits at Paulilles continue throughout October, including the theatrical “Sur les pas de Jeanne” experience and visits to the boat workshop.
It’s an easy one to recommend to visitors because the heritage is unusually tangible: you’re not simply looking at an old building — you’re seeing traditional boats being restored and learning about the site’s industrial past.
Visit Castelnou by storytelling
On Thursday 22 October, discover Château de Castelnou through a musical storytelling visit featuring three fantastic and romantic tales.
22 October, 3pm
Château de Castelnou
For anyone still finding their feet with French, a storytelling format can be a rather more enjoyable way of listening to the language than sitting in a classroom!
The Mysteries of Castelnou
For something considerably more dramatic, head back to Castelnou on 24 or 25 October.
The family programme runs during the day, with a guild-style game involving clues and puzzles. Adults can return in the evening for a murder mystery party, complete with Madame Irma, a mysterious artefact and the ghosts and secrets of the castle.
24 & 25 October, 11am–5pm: family activities
6pm–8pm: adult murder mystery
Reservation required.
Halloween at the Palais des Rois de Majorque
If you’re looking for something atmospheric, “Trouille au Palais” turns the Palais des rois de Majorque into an escape game for Halloween.
The story involves the death of Jaume III, a hidden royal seal and the ghosts of the palace’s former inhabitants. The activity is aimed at visitors aged 7 and over and is done independently.
Saturday 31 October
Palais des rois de Majorque, Perpignan
November: French, Catalan and medieval history
Free Sunday at the historic sites
Another useful date for the diary is Sunday 1 November, when admission is free to the Château royal de Collioure, Palais des rois de Majorque and Prieuré de Serrabona.
Try some historical French and Catalan
The Département’s Anim’Archives programme continues with workshops in French and Catalan palaeography.
On 18 November, beginners can attend from 8.30–10am, with an intermediate session from 10.30am–12pm.
Palaeography is essentially the study of old handwriting and historical documents — so this is definitely one for people who enjoy getting under the skin of the region’s history.
There are also medieval palaeography and bookbinding workshops later in the month. Reservation required.
Talks on local history
The Anim’Archives conference programme includes talks on subjects ranging from the archives of Andorra to a rediscovered medieval Virgin from Prats-Balaguer and the lives of Jewish and Christian businessmen documented in the Département’s medieval archives.
These are held at the Archives départementales in Perpignan, with the November talks taking place at 6pm.
Again, these are perhaps best suited to more confident French speakers — but they could be a rewarding challenge for anyone keen to improve their listening skills.
December: castles after Christmas
Lendemains de Noël at Castelnou
If you’re still looking for something to do after Christmas, Castelnou has its own festive programme on 26 and 27 December.
Expect a young people’s show, a musical recital and even a fortune teller.
26 & 27 December, 11am–5pm
Château de Castelnou
Reservation required.
Christmas at the Département’s historic sites
There will also be “Spectacles en lumière” on Wednesdays in December at the Palais des rois de Majorque and Château royal de Collioure, with workshops and performances for children. The detailed programme is still to come.
A few exhibitions worth knowing about
If you’re visiting any of the Département’s sites over the next few months, there are also several exhibitions that may be worth building into your plans.
Josep Bartolí:
Dessiner, c’est combattre
At the Château royal de Collioure, from 7 November 2026 to 29 March 2027.
The exhibition explores the work and life of Josep Bartolí, artist, cartoonist and witness to Republican exile. It is presented in partnership with the Mémorial du camp de Rivesaltes.
Cap Fauve
Paintings by Aude Jonquères d’Oriola at the Château royal de Collioure, from 4 September to 22 October.
La nature réinventée par le plastique
At Paulilles from September to December, artist Catherine Vignaud creates large-scale works representing Mediterranean and Pyrenean animals entirely from collected plastic waste.
It’s an interesting combination of art, environmental issues and the local landscape.
Bateaux d’ici et d’ailleurs
From 5 October 2026 to 30 January 2027, the Atelier des barques at Paulilles hosts photographs by Francis Dietrich exploring traditional boats still in use, from the Pyrénées-Orientales to Africa and Asia.
Put these dates in your diary
If you don’t want to read through the whole programme, these are probably the dates to keep handy:
19–20 September — European Heritage Days
27 September — Fête du Parc
4 October — Free Sunday at three historic sites
22 October — Storytelling visit at Castelnou
24–25 October — Mysteries of Castelnou
31 October — Halloween escape game at the Palais des rois de Majorque
1 November — Free Sunday at three historic sites
18 November — French & Catalan palaeography
26–27 December — Lendemains de Noël at Castelnou
And, of course, Paulilles and its exhibitions and guided visits continue to be a good option throughout the autumn.
Quite a nice mixture here of history, language, art, nature and the wonderfully complicated story of this corner of Catalonia. You don’t have to do everything, but there are certainly a few things worth putting on the calendar!
A Few More Events (out of many) Worth Knowing About
- Pellicu-Live, Thuir — 3–5 September: live music, cinema and gastronomy.
- Festival Lyrique des Pays Catalans — 4–6, 20 & 27 September: opera/lyric music in several locations.
- Pignon sur Mer, Port-Vendres — 11–13 September: sea, environment, cinema and literature.
- Fête du Miel et des Abeilles, Saint-Michel-de-Llotes — 27 September: honey and bees
- Fête de la Patate, Matemale — 10–11 October: potato festival.
- Fête du Goût, Passa — 11 October: food/taste festival.
- Festival international d’échecs, Perpignan — 17–22 October.
- Foire au Gras et aux Volailles Prades — 22 November.
- Foire au Gras et aux Volailles, Thuir — 6 December.
- Marché de Noël, Passa — 13 December.
- Foire au Gras et aux Volailles, Céret — 20 December.