Maison de la culture Pyrénées-Orientales

On the Picasso Square, the Tower of Spain hosts a small local archaeological museum. A significant part of the heritage of Vallespir is constantly exposed: funeral ballot, prehistoric pottery, jewelry and a faithful reconstitution of a necropolis and a dolmen. In the reception room, temporary thematic exhibitions present unpublished collections. Playful and informative, this small museum is a place to discover as a family, videos show prehistory in the region and workshops for children are regularly organized there. The city visits are assured by Gilles who will tell you more about the little stories than the big, you will spend an excellent moment.

With its 20,000 visitors per year, this space has become in a short time the spearhead of the cultural and artistic development of Le Barcarès. A real scenography, in the window and in the gallery, highlights paintings and sculptures of regional and international artists, mainly contemporary. The new lounge area, with its red velvet sofas and loungers, also invites visitors, once a month, to literary, philosophical and civic meetings as part of the Café de la culture et des arts. Not to be missed!

The association offers guided tours on the theme of botany and welcomes groups to raise awareness about the environment, sustainable development and biodiversity. Day or half day walks are organised to discover the Floristic nature reserve of Eyne. In the spring, she pare, myosotis, renoncules and gentians. Summer, rhododendrons and lilies. This flora is also made up of rare species, sometimes endemic, whose area of development is restricted to the territory of the valley alone. These various species have been studied for nearly three centuries and today it serves as references to botanists around the world. It is from here that the thyme, gentian, oregano, or other medicinal plants were used by the famous apothecaries of the Spanish enclave of Llivia. One afternoon in the valley of Eyne is an enchantment, you will learn to recognize the different species, feel them, touch them, even taste them sometimes. La Maison de la Vallée also organizes archaeological walks «in the footsteps of the first pastors» which will lead you through the mountain to the dolmens, menhirs and a cave, with remnants of pottery, witness to the occupation of the territory almost 6 000 years ago.