Travelling on the left was actually made official in 1300 AD, when Pope Boniface VIII decreed that pilgrims to Rome should keep left.
The beautiful castle in the heart of the Albères is said to be haunted by the ghost of a British spy – and is now free and open to visit.
The Via Domitia was the first of the vast network of roads in Gaul (France) built by the Romans, crossing southern France to link Italy and Spain.
On 7th November 1659, the kingdoms of France and Spain signed the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which ended the 30 years war between supporters of Louis XIV of France and those of Philip IV of Spain.
The origins of the name Marianne are unclear though many believe that, as, one of the most common names of the time, it was chosen to represent the common people.
A whole host of interesting facts about the region and further afield for your reading pleasure. So, did you know…?
Have you ever wondered what the D in D-Day stands for?
Did you know that Prat is the Catalan word for prairie or meadow?
Did you know that the word ‘saunter’ may originate from the French ‘à la sainte terre’ ?
One of the first French words we learn in school is ‘bic’, for ballpoint pen.(Qu’est ce qu’il y a dans ta trousse?)