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OVERVIEW OF THE REGION

Joie du Vivre
The Languedoc Roussillon area is one of the most beautiful and diverse areas of all of France. Bathed in the glorious Mediterranean light so loved by artists Picasso, Matisse and others, the region has beautiful beaches, framed by the Pyrenees mountains.  Inland, you can find traditional villages and the buzzing capital of Perpignan.  This is the place to experience the French joie du vivre - or joy of living! 

Climate

Located in the very south of France, close to the border with Spain, the whole area experiences very hot summers (30c plus), warm autumns and springs (16-22c), and generally cool, wet but sometimes mild winters (5-15c). 

Perpignan itself is a small, modern and pretty city with plenty of history.  It's breezy boulevards are centred around two rivers, the Basse and the Tet.  The 13th century castle of the Kings of Majorca sits on a hill overlooking the town.  Salvador Dali declared the city's railway station to be the centre of the earth, saying that he always got his best ideas sitting in the waiting room.

There are three large supermarkets and malls: Leclerc, Carrefour and Auchan.    From Perpignan train station there are direct trains to Barcelona (2 hours) and Montpellier (2 hours).  Travelling on the French railway is inexpensive.  The motorway N119 or the peage (toll motorway) runs north to south, connecting Barcelona with Montpellier. 

The Languedoc coast is only 20 minutes from the centre of Perpignan and there are the busy resort beaches (offering all facilities) at Canet-en-Roussillion, St Cyprien or Torreilles Plage.  In between, to the north of Argeles-sur-Mer and between Torreilles Plage and Le Barcares, there are quieter stretches of beach where you often won’t see a soul.    The Mediterranean is warm enough for swimming from March until October (water temperature peaks at 24c).   Where else can you lie on the beach and see snow on the mountains?

One of the most attractive stretches of coastline starts at Argelès-sur-Mer and runs for 30 miles to the Spanish border.  It's called the Cote Vermeille, or Vermillion Coast in English, named after the purplish-reddish colour of the rocks.  It is almost entirely rocky, occasionally with small paths leading down to isolated coves.  The towns along this stretch are famous for their painters and you can lose an entire afternoon exploring their historic, cobbled streets.  Matisse and other famous artists developed their fauvist style of painting in the gorgeous town of Collioure. 

Port Vendres is a quintessentially Catalan fishing port: a walk along its quayside reveals anchors, fishing nets and other fishing paraphernalia.  It’s an atmospheric place to enjoy the catch of the day or to enjoy a cool beer at sunset.

The inland scenery consists of vineyards and the foothills of the Fenouilledes mountain range. By car, it is possible to explore the broader region, including the beautiful villages of the Prades and Estagel valleys.  There is much to see, including waterfalls, pastures and pine forests at the tops of the valleys, and more Mediterranean landscapes, of orchards and vineyards nearer the coast. Andorra is only 2 hours away, and access to Spain is excellent because of the fast peage motorway.  Barcelona is 2 hours away, but the resorts of the Costa Brava can be reached in less time.

Many of the villages in the Perpignan area  offer the quintessential French lifestyle.   To soak up French village life, while the afternoon away at a roadside bar.   Markets take place in many village squares where you can buy freshly-landed oysters from Cap Leucate (a superior type of oyster), as well as garlic, locally-reared meats and eggs and preserves from local farms.

There are many delightful walks or hikes and one can feel completely in the wilds.  The area has a rich history, being the feudal territory of the Cathars, whose lonely, stone towers dot the landscape.  Two of the most romantically-sited of these are at Peyrepertuse and Queribus.  

There are some interesting villages in the region to explore, including Tautavel, where the remains of the oldest man in the world were dug up.  Other villages offer beautiful settings such as Latour de France, Baixas, Calce, Caudies de Fenouilledes (waterfalls) and Case de Pene (a fine village, with a remotely-sited hermitage).  Don't miss the Gorges du Galamus near St Paul de Fenouillet - hundreds of steps cut into the rock lead down to a hidden church in a grotto.

Further Reading

What the papers say about the area:

Guardian Travel - article about Perpignan
Sydney Morning Herald - article about Collioure

Today's weather forecast for the region:
Meteo.fr

Airlines which fly to Perpignan airport:

Ryanair from London Stansted
Flybe from Birmingham and Southampton
BMIBaby from Manchester

Tourist office websites:

Perpignan Tourism
Argelès sur Mer Tourism
Collioure Tourism

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