When the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659) decreed that Spain hand over Roussillon and 33 communes of the Cerdagne to France, the small town of Llivia, in the Cerdagne, somehow managed to remain Spanish. It remains to this day, a little…
Step back in time with us for a fascinating day out which takes in both sides of the P-O border with a Medieval fortress and a Roman ruin
Argelès to Banyuls-sur-Mer is a short but fabulous coastal drive on a crisp autumn day, offering panoramic views over the bay of Collioure, row after row of steep, terraced vines, and a sparkling Mediterranean ever present throughout the drive.
Le Boulou is working hard to shake off its past image of gridlocked traffic, and a walk around the panoramic battle site, followed by a wander around this much improved little town is recommended.
On a clear winter’s day, a drive along the coastal lagoons of Salses and Canet can offer vast skies, wide horizons, bird spotting, oyster eating and windsurfer watching.
How about Halloween in Villefranche de Conflent. Several shops sell ‘poupées sorcières’, as befits the legends of magic and witchcraft surrounding this region.
At the foot of the Albères mountain range, just a short drive away from the Spanish border lies Argelès. Its name comes from the Latin ‘argila’ meaning clay. Its motto, ‘qui s’hi acosta, té resposta’ means…
One of the many irrigation canals that criss-cross the Pyrenees-Orientales runs through the pretty village of Rodès. Enjoy a relatively light walk of 1 – 1.5 hours. A small section of climbing but nothing too challenging.
Originally set up by the Rois de Majorque as a defence system to protect the Roussillon from invaders, the tours de signaux (signal towers) allowed information to be passed quickly around the region, using fire and smoke signals.
With Canigou at its back and the River Tech in front, the views all around the fortified medieval town of Prats de Mollo are stunning. But it was not merely built for the view!
