| |
THE ROUSSILLON COAST
Port-Barcarès
Port-Barcarès is an animated seaside resort sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and a salt water lake popular with windsurfers. This resort is a favourite of lovers of water sports. It's outstanding feature, apart from the long sandy beach, is the old cruise liner "The Lydia" which has been moored on dry land at the sea front for many years, and used as a discotheque and restaurant, but since June 2004 is now also a Casino. A popular event here is the Fete de St Jean, held at the end of June
at Canet Plage
St Cyprien Plage
St Cyprien has a wide sandy beach, and a marina, and is located at the feet of the Pyrenees... St Cyprien seems to have an unlimited amount of parking spaces, but come here on a Sunday in August when the market is in full swing and you will discover what all those spaces are for. Saint-Cyprien has been awarded the "Pavillon Bleu Européen" (European Blue Flag) emblem for the cleanliness of its harbour and beach for a number of years. Samples of the bathing waters are taken weekly and tested, and the results are posted in the tyourist office. There are more than 2200 moorings in the Marina with 440 reserved for visitors The port can accommodate boats of more than 30m in length The Markets at St Cyprien are well known throughout the region. There is a market here throughout the year on Thursday and Friday mornings. From May to September this is supplemented by a market on Tuesday morning, and the more famous market during July and August takes place on Sunday morning
Argeles
Argeles lies 20 kilometres south of Perpignan, in one of the sunniest areas of France. Catalan traditions, gastronomy and viticulture, plus a good quality of life, await you. The beach stretches as far as the eye can see, to the Pyrenees which plunge into the sea a short distance away.
It is probably the most important tourist and seaside resort of the French Catalan coast.
Argelès-sur-Mer goes back to Prehistory. The town was first mentioned under the Carolingian dynasty. From the 17th century, its history had always been closely linked to political and military events that occured in the Roussillon. Argelès was situated at the crossroads of important commercial routes that led to Spain. First dominated by the Counts of Roussillon, the Kings of Aragon took control of the town in the 12th century, and remained so until 1276. From 1276 to 1344, Argelès belonged to the Kingdom of Majorca, and to protect his land from attacks, he built towers on the mountains One being La Massane signal station overlooking Argelès.
The town was contained within imposing ramparts. A fortified church with an impressive tower was erected, and is still standing in the centre of the old village. In 1344, the kingdom of Majorca disappeared. Both the town and Roussillon returned to the Kingdom of Aragon, who maintained a garrison in the town. Until the 17th century, French and Spanish troops regularly fought over Argelès. In 1659, with the Treaty of the Pyrenees, Roussillon was brought under the jurisdiction of France, but once again became of strategic importance during the Franco-Spanish war in 1794.
In the early 20th century, Argelès was a large, rural village. Life was based on agriculture, and craft industries. The development of tourism in the early 1950s has changed all that, and Argeles has now become a major tourist resort with many internationally run camp sites.
Collioure
Languedoc-Roussillon is very strongly influenced by the Spanish, after all it was largely owned by the Spanish for centuries. At Collioure you enter a Catalan land, with a specific language and culture. The Catalan tradition is omnipresent in gastronomy, religious festivals and the Catalans are characterized by their joviality. “The Sardanya” a Catalan dance is often performed during fetes. You will more often see the Catalan flag, than the French tricolor.
Collioure is a picturesque fishing port, near the Spanish border and its specialty is the preparation of anchovies. It is located in the Roussillon department, and here is some of the most picturesque of the French Mediterranean coast. Full of narrow cobbled streets, Collioure has long been a favourite of artists. Matisse, Derain, Dufy and Picasso painted Collioure extensively. The beauty of this area is blessed with bright sunshine all year round. Collioure is known as the pearl of the Cote Vermeil.
The harbour is dominated by the fortified Chateau Royale that was founded by the Templars in the 13th century. Two hundred years later it became the summer residence of the Kings of Mallorca, and then reinforced by Vaubin
in 1679 after the Treaty of the Pyrenees.
Banyuls is a fishing port, but more noted for its wines that are naturally slightly sweet. The coast road from here to just beyond the Spanish Border is very picturesque, and ends in the village of Rosas .
Rosas (Spain)
Although Rosas is not in the Languedoc-Roussillon. It would be remiss not to mention it, as it is one of the first coastal towns across the border and a firm favourite of those Frenchmen living within a short driving distance of the frontier. French Catalonia and Spanish Catalunya very much merge at the National Border, which is seen, only as a bureaucratic inconvenience. Rosas is a fishing village given over to tourism. It has a large semi circular bay. Just outside Rosas on the road to La Jonquera, at La Pau, is one of the few Olive oil cooperatives in the area where it is possible to have a ‘degustation’ and buy olive oil en vrac (bulk).
Le Perthus
Not far from Rosas is the border town of Le Perthus. It lies on a Col on the Pyrenees where, it is said, Hannibal practiced mountain crossings with his elephants in 218bc, before going on to Italy.
This town is where the French come to buy their alcohol at ‘duty free’ prices and little else is on sale except fresh meat, casual clothes, leather goods and Spanish specialties for aperitifs. During the season, garden plants and oranges are a good buy.
Le Perthus consists of a main road, sloping down to the border crossing. The shops are arranged all along the Spanish side of the road, and little on the French side, the border strictly speaking running down the center of the road.
Perpignan,
Perpignan is the capital of
the département of
Pyrénées-Orientales.
It is located on the
River
Têt, 8 miles west of
the Mediterranean Sea and 19 miles from the Spanish frontier. Catalan
culture is dominant in both the language and the cuisine.
The
Prefecture of Roussillon, once belonged to the Kings of Majorca and
their Palace remains in the middle of the town. It is a melting pot of
Nationalities, the largest being of Spanish origin, but with many of
Moroccan and Algerian descent. There is a small airport that has become
more important with the arrival of one of the larger "cheap flight"
airlines, Ryanair.
Formerly a fortified town during the middle ages, Today, it is a
flourishing albeit unremarkeable market town. A center for the wines,
fruit, and vegetables from the rich plain in which it is located.
Toward the end of the 19th century the town walls were dismantled.
However, the Castillet, a picturesque 14th and 15th century crenellated
fort that defended the principal gate, still stands. Today, it is a
museum. The ancient Loge de Mer, which housed the maritime tribunal, is
located nearby. The 14th and 15th century Gothic Cathedral of
Saint-Jean and the castle of the kings of Mallorca are not far away.
In the southern part of the town is the partially restored medieval
palace of the kings of Majorca. The palace is surrounded by the
bastions of the great 17th and 18th century citadel.
Perpignan had been the
capital of the counts of Roussillon. In 1172 it became the possession
of James I of Aragon. When he died, his realm was divided between his
sons. His younger son James got Roussillon and Majorca. He was the
first of three hereditary kings of Majorca who made the city their
capital from 1276 to 1344.
During the struggle between France and Spain, for the province of
Roussillon, Perpignan was heavily fortified. In 1659 Perpignan became
French as the result of the Treaty of the Pyrénées. During and after
the Spanish Civil War of 1936 it received Spanish Republican refugees.
Subsequent to Algerian independence, in 1960, it became a refuge for
French settlers from North Africa. In 1971, the University of
Perpignan was established.
|
