Travel guide
Pyrénées-Orientales

The 12 keywords Pyrénées-Orientales

1. Organic Agriculture

20% of the agricultural lands are in BIO in the department. The respect of the earth and the living being has the wind in its sails in Catalan Country. In the vineyards, gardens or orchards, the farmers are increasingly turning to the agriculture of tomorrow. Visit our village markets, meet the producers, you will be seduced and converted.

2. Modern art

In the last century, the Pyrenees-Orientales were a source of inspiration for painters attracted by light and nature. Collioure, cradle of Fauvism, remembers Matisse and Derain. Céret keeps Picasso in its memory. And Perpignan, the "centre of the world" swears by Dali! Without forgetting the famous artists born in the country like Maillol or Terrus.

3. Romanesque art

Northern Catalonia conceals an inestimable wealth for those who know how to lose themselves inland and look up into the freshness of religious buildings, both large and small. The most emblematic monuments are the priory of Serrabone, the abbeys of Saint Michel de Cuxa and Saint Martin du Canigou or the cloister of Elne.

4. Canigó

The massif of Canigó culminates at 2784m of altitude. Visible from far away, this imposing massif has become a symbol for the Catalans who have nicknamed it the sacred mountain. It is at its summit that the flame is rekindled every year at the summer solstice, which will descend to all the villages. It is necessary to go up once in its life because from there, the sight is magnificent.

5. Catalan language

It is better not to tell a Catalan that his language "is a patois" ! spoken by more than 10 million people (North and South Catalonia) this Romanic language born in the 8th century is the key and unifying element of the Catalan identity. The Catalan culture is present, alive and claimed by a wide range of the population. Visca la terra.

6. Mediterranean

The Catalan coastline stretches over 70 km with an amazing variety of landscapes, two thirds of which are sandy beaches bordered by a vast lagoon between Le Barcarès and Argelès-sur-Mer. Then come the pebble beaches and creeks. All styles of water sports activities are available on the coast: kite surfing, paddle, scuba diving...

7. Mountain

Conflent, Vallespir, Cerdagne and Capcir are the mountainous regions of the department and occupy a third of its surface area. The Catalan Pyrenees are not only a delight for hikers, skiers and mountaineers, they also offer a unique ecological diversity from 300 to nearly 3000m of altitude and a great variety of landscapes.

8. Retirada

Between January and February 1939, more than 500,000 Spanish refugees crossed the border to escape Franco's regime. It is the retreat that history will remember under the Spanish name of "Retirada". Today, more than 70 years later, many descendants of exiles live in the department and maintain the memory of this exodus without return.

9. Rugby

The Catalan country is a land of rugby. In XV with the team of the USAP champion of France of Pro D2 this year which joins the elite of the Top 14 and the XIII with our valorous Catalan Dragons which dispute with brilliance the championship of England and carry high the colors "Sang et Or" with perhaps this season a second cup of England to the palmarès.

10. Traditions

Catalan traditions are just as alive. Going hand in hand with language and culture, they seal the seal of this regional identity. They give rise to numerous events throughout the year. The most famous are the Correfocs, the Gegants, the Castellers or the Sant Jordi celebrations.

11. Vauban

How can we talk about military architecture without mentioning Vauban? From north to south and even in the Catalan mountains, the Sun King's architect closed the locks and consolidated the borders with Spain. The state of conservation of the buildings is surprising in Villefranche-de-Conflent, Salses, Mont Louis and at the Fort of Bellegarde in Perthus.

12. Vineyard

The terraces of the amphitheatre of the Catalan country have been occupied by vines since the Romans. A mosaic of varied terroirs unique in France! The wines of Roussillon are rich, fruity and full-bodied, each one expressing a particular character inspired by the land, the climate and the winemaker. Not forgetting the famous Vins Doux Naturels.