In the south of France and on the Spanish border, one foot in the Mediterranean, with the Pyrenees chain as a backdrop, this department has everything for itself! You will find large ski resorts, including Font-Romeu, a resort for top sportsmen and women who come here to train in both summer and winter, natural areas, fine sandy beaches and charming sites, not to mention Perpignan, a capital city with sumptuous buildings and beautiful vitality, particularly around photojournalism. The coastline is home to the Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve, which is of great biodiversity and interest to scientists, and Collioure, a charming port that attracts artists. The Côte Vermeille aligns the seaside resorts where you can sunbathe: Canet-en-Roussillon, Argelès-sur-Mer, Saint-Cyprien, Le Barcarès. The most sporty ones climb trees in the mountains, canyon in white water, reach the summits by hiking trails. The department also hosts the largest karting circuit in Europe: the Roussillon circuit. The heritage is not to be outdone and includes classified religious buildings. Thermalism is represented, as elsewhere in the Pyrenees, massive with many beneficial springs, with five thermal resorts, including Amélie-les-Bains.
When to go to the Pyrénées-Orientales? Although this destination has two high tourist seasons in summer for all outdoor sports and in winter for skiing, it remains pleasant all year round, given the mild climate. However, you will find fewer establishments open during the off-season, the advantage being that prices drop at the same time as tourist numbers and you can enjoy the country at your own pace by meeting more authentic producers and hospitality professionals who have more time to spend with you. In summer, the Côte Vermeille, on the Mediterranean, is a mass tourist destination, with many hotels and campsites, as well as attractions and entertainment. The mountains are also crowded with tourists, but they are not looking for seaside pleasures, rather for outdoor sports activities (hiking, rafting, mountain biking...). The year is punctuated by festivals, encounters and celebrations in winter resorts or seaside resorts, depending on the season. Perpignan offers an annual cultural program that can make your stay attractive in all seasons and especially in September during photojournalism meetings, Visa pour l'image de Perpignan.
Nice balance: 300 days of sunshine and 60 days of rain per year, on average. With a Mediterranean climate, the Pyrenees-Orientales have relatively mild winters. Snowfall is very rare on the plain. Summers are hot, even very hot. Two main winds play a major role: the Tramontane, a northwest wind, which frequently exceeds 100 km/h, and the Marinade, a marine wind accompanied by grey and rain.
The work of the painter, watercolourist and aquafortist Théodule Ribot is fascinating, but it is not well known to the general public. His work ...
From 12/01/2021 to 02/01/2022 : It is in the heart of Ritouret Park that the Lantern Festival is preparing to settle. The long-awaited event is none other than the largest ...
When to go to the Pyrénées-Orientales? Although this destination has two high tourist seasons in summer for all out...
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Nice balance: 300 days of sunshine and 60 days of rain per year, on average. With a Mediterranean climate, the Pyrene...
Read more about it
Cartoonist and caricaturist, Josep Bartolí was an anti-Franco fighter and great defender of the Republic. The exhibition "Josep Bartolì. The colours of exile", which is currently on display at the Rivesaltes Camp Memorial, brings together a selection of more than 150 of the artist's works, inspired by exile, combat and political commitment. The first part is devoted to drawings representing the war and the camps, the second part is a ...
The south of France is a popular destination for a long weekend in the spring as well as for the entire summer holiday. With mild weather and temperatures for several months of the year, the Mediterranean coastline is a delight for those who like to enjoy the sun, the sea, the hilly nature for hiking and the beautiful, lively cities. Holidaymakers, whether they go as a couple, with friends or with their families, will find a multitude of ...
Here is a motorcycle road trip that should appeal to lovers of the towns and landscapes of the south-western part of France. Between the sea and the mountains, a two-wheeled escapade from Perpignan is ideal to conquer the hilly panoramas of the Albères massif, before reaching the spectacular hinterland of the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales. We then head for Sète, the little Venice of the Languedoc, with stops along the way in ...
Rudyard Kipling compared Canigó (or Canigou) to the mountains of South Africa or the Himalayas. But why compare what cannot be compared? The Canigó massif is unique. A true stone giant that rises to 2,784.66 metres, it is the guardian of the border between the south and the north of Catalonia and the protector of the passage between two worlds: the plain and the mountains. Visible from the sea, it has become one of its natural lighthouses. ...
