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Please Note: The following Pages contain a large amount of information Pertaining to our region and what to see or do when you are here !!! Do take the time to visit the Hyperlinks marked in green as you will gather more information that will give you a better idea of what one can see and do when you visit.
We Believe that a picture saves a thousand words!
So before you look at the pictures below of places to see Please download the following Powerpoint presentation to further whet your appetite for the region it will take a few minutes but we think you may find it worthwhile if you are considering a visit to our region
or a very much enhanced version
Download Here (3.2Mb)
The moment that you step out in the morning, to take your coffee on the terrace, you immediately appreciate the beauty of the area, as you look out on the Canigou, sacred mountain of the Catalans, twice the height of Ben Nevis!
There is a huge variety of things to see and do in the region of the Pyrenees-Orientale. To start with, there are some 50 miles of beaches, which stretch from Porte La Nouvelle to Argeles-sur-Mer.
As you get closer to the Spanish border, the coastline changes to rocky bays and inlets, and the towns situated here are ideal for sampling the local seafood, with plenty of restaurants and bars lining the streets.
The magnificent Harbours and Bays
If you want to see what the weather is actually like check out This Webcam at Collioure Bay
There is a wealth of history in this region, which used to be part of Spain, such as Villefranche-le-Conflent ……..
Also at Villefranche are some of the most incredible caves!
Starting also at Villefranche, you can board the little Yellow train which winds its way uphill to Mont Louis and stops not far from Andorra. This journey is recognised as one of the greatest railway journeys in the world !! it must also rank as one of the prettiest!
and then there are the ancient Cathare fortresses, built on impossible hilltops in the 9th Century then destroyed with huge loss of life
Queribus – a Cathare Castle And Puilaurens (Camelot?)
……and then there are the more recent buildings, such as the Chateau at Salses, built by the Spanish in the 14th Century with 150 flushing toilets and a sauna !!!
There are the medieval villages, built on rocky outcrops and volcanic plugs, such as Eus, and Castelnou
the beauty of Castelnou, is that the 12th Century fortress at the top of the village has an excellent restaurant, which we can thoroughly recommend.
Many villages of the region have churches which were built in the 10th – 12th Century, some with incredible treasures, such as Prades, and some more modest, as our own local church, in St Feliu d’Amont.
Abbeys abound, in various states of repair. Some are in the mountains, such as St Martin de Canigou – a considerable climb, but well worth it for the spectacular abbey and the views.
Others just appear as you round a corner in the road, such as St Michel de Cuxa, which is on the return journey from the Canigou.
There are also the fantastic
Panoramique views
The Religious Festivals
Travelling a little further on, you can head south for Spain, crossing the frontier in some 20 minutes. Here you find Le Perthus, where the shopping is cheap, especially for alcohol, cigarettes and leather goods, and noteable for many restaurants, one of which we can thoroughly recommend which has a
Motorcycle Museum for MV's and Ducati's
Some 30 minutes onwards to the South, you reach the town of Figueres, home of Salvador Dali, and the location of his museum.
To the East of Figueres, you have the Costa Brava, with towns such as Empuria Brava, famed for its canals – it is the biggest residential marina in the world – and L’Estertit. Both of these resorts have fabulous beaches, and the Tapas bars are well worth investigating.
Travelling in a Northerly direction from base, there are the Corbiere Mountains, where the Cathare castles are situated, but perhaps one of the most spectacular places is the ancient medieval walled town of Carcassone, which was completely restored by an enthusiast in the early 19th century, rescuing it from disappearing into history. Now it is a thriving tourist area, with fascinating shops, delightful restaurants, and a truly awesome cathedral.
The above is just to give you some idea of what the region offers. We have not mentioned the thousands of wines produced, or the gastronomic delights, the incredible fresh produce, the like of which we have never seen in the UK.
And If All that is not enough????
Andorra, a tax-free haven, is only 2 hours (very interesting) drive away, but take plastic friends!! Les Angles and Font Romeau for winter skiing, The Valley of Cerdanya, Cadaques, Barcelona with its houses by Gaudi and its race circuit,
And of course a visit to this region would not be complete if you did not see This !
Plus
If all this is not enough?
We can also arrange a day on the med in a fast cruiser with lunch in a seafood restaurant on the beach or Parachuting at the largest school in the world, canyoning, white river rafting, water skiing, sailing, caving, 4x4 rides to the top of a 10,000ft mountain, Horse riding, go-karting, trout fishing, and more!!!
What more do you need to have a complete holiday?