If you like visiting ruined châteaux, head north to the valley of the Orbiel. Just twenty minutes from Carcassonne is the village of Lastours. High on a ridge above the village, four separate châteaux stand in a line: Cabaret, Tour Régine, Surdespine and Quertinheux.
The ‘Castell de Sant Ferran’, built in Figueres in the mid 18th century, is the largest bastioned fortress in Europe and could house 4,000 men.
Did You Know: Amélie special. Are you an Amélie aficionado? Here’s a miscellaneous selection of Amélie-related facts that may (or may not) help you win a local quiz.
A full day hike taking in the gorges and forest of the Spanish Pyrenees from Sadernes to St. Aniol
How about Halloween in Villefranche de Conflent. Several shops sell ‘poupées sorcières’, as befits the legends of magic and witchcraft surrounding this region.
A gorge is a very deep crevice between two mountains or hills, formed by rivers running through and eroding rock over a very long period of time. Here are a couple to take your breath away.
The Palais des Rois de Majorque is a must-see for the fine view from the impressive red brick ramparts across the city roofs to Canigou, to Queribus and the plain in between.
I’m assuming you’ve already gasped at the Parc Güell, gazed at Gaudi, stared at the Sagrada Familia, and marvelled at Miró.
For me the charm of Barcelona is to be found in its more homely treasures, on foot or by its efficient public transport system.
This month we’re heading up to to the mountain towns of Font Romeu and Les Angles, with a couple of stops en route to explore the historic walled towns of Villefranche and Mont Louis.
Ideas of things to see and do when the weather takes a turn for the worse
