There is much to see and do in the Collioure area including:

 

~ One of the beaches at Collioure ~

Beaches:

Collioure itself has four different small beaches. Along the Cote Vermeille there are miles of sandy beaches, and a wide choice of restaurants, cafés, bars as well as water sports or, if you prefer, there is enough space for to get away from everything.

 

 

~ Bars along the front - Collioure ~

Bars & Restaurants:

There are many bars that retain the real flavour of the area - used by locals and tourists alike. In Collioure the bars along the traffic free front allow you to sip your wine, 'Pastis', beer or coffee and watch the world go by; the people on land and the boats gliding in the bay, backdropped by the fabulous views. There is a wide variety of restaurants locally. Some at gourmet level and listed in “le Bottin Gourmand” such as the Cote Vermeille in Port Vendres or “ le Neptune” in Collioure. In addition there are places to suit all tastes and all pockets. As you might expect, excellent meals using locally caught fish feature strongly - do try the anchovies.

 

~ Boar sausages at Thuir market ~

Markets:

Fresh produce and local crafts on Sunday and Wednesday in Collioure, Saturday in nearby Céret and daily except Monday in Perpignan. These can get very busy, particularly in Céret, but they will give you the opportunity to get a real flavour of the local life - and pick up some bargains if you are prepared to haggle. “la Criee”, the fish market is not to be missed in Port Vendres for locally caught fish and shellfish (open daily).

Wine tours:

There are signposted routes to local Chateaux producing AOC Collioure and Banyuls wines or simply visit the excellent local “caves”; there are excellent guided tours at the Cellier Des Templiers (Banyuls) and at Thuir - both offering generous tastings at the end of the tours.

 

Art:

A 'must' is the guided tour of “les chemins du fauvisme” looking back on the works of Matisse and Derain when they resided in Collioure. The Museum of Modern Art offers seasonal exhibitions of local artists. The Museum of Modern Art at nearby Céret has works by many artists including Picasso, Dali and Chagall. Many of the local towns have interesting examples of 'public art'. If you are driving into Spain then visit the Dali museum in Figueras.

 

~ The towers of Peyrepertuse ~

History:

Difficult to avoid, even as you step out of the house. Take your time walking round the Château Royal of Collioure, and the Castle of the Kings of Majorca in Perpignan. The Cathars built many hilltop castles in the area and their ruins make for a fascinating visit - try the Château de Peyrepertuse near Maury.

 

~ Rennes-Le-Château ~

 

 

An historical mystery can be examined at Rennes-Le-Château in the high Valley of the Aude which is north of Quillan (head west on the D117 from Perpignan). Its quite a drive but well worth it.

 

Winter Sports:

~ Skiing in the Pyrenees ~

In the recent years, the number of adepts of new winter recreation, attracted by novelty and the search for the big thrills, has been continuously increasing. Many of the nearby Pyrenean resorts have developed for them specially protected areas called Snow-parks.

Surfers going for freestyle will be able to practice to their heart's content, performing woops and jumps, one after the other, on specially laid out runs, alternating modules, moguls and all kind of obstacles.

Nearby resorts offering a snow-park include Les Angles and Font-Romeu.

For more information click on the following link: