Argelès sur Mer and neighbourhood

ARGELES SUR MER

is situated on the Catalan coast between Perpignan and the Spanish border in the foothills of the chain of mountains of Pyrenées. It benefits from a very good, sunny climate the majority of the year. It has seven kilometres of sandy beaches, three kilometres of creeks and two nature reserves. The nature reserve of Mas Larrieux by the sea and the nature reserve of Massane Forest in the Albères. Famous all over Europe, we invite you to come and visit Argelès sur Mer, meet Catalan people and their kindness, the welcome of shopkeepers and taste the wines of Roussillon. Above all, feel that inimitable atmosphere of the south of France! Argelès sur Mer is one of the most important seaside resort in the South of France and the most famous for tourism and camp sites.

COLLIOURE

People here live ‘one foot in their vineyard and one foot in their boat’. The two harbours in Collioure, the Cauco Illiberis of Antiquity, are filled with anchovy snacks. The Albères that form the hinterland, are the last outcrops of the Pyrenées and are covered with the vineyards of Banyuls. Picasso, Matisse, Derain and many other artists fell in love with the now famous scenery of the Saint Vincent Island and beach with its 17th century church adjacent to an Arabian tower with a pink dome that was originally Baroque reredos by Joseph Sunyer (1702). They also liked the 12th century Templars’ castle that was turned to a summer residence by the Kings of Majorca and, later, fortified by Vauban. It is a splendid setting. Yet there are those who prefer the old Mouré district. It is less of a tourist attraction but it has some pretty little alleyways on there are schist steps running across the rooftops.

ELNE

Elne is a sanctuary dating from the earliest days of Antiquity. It is said that king Pyrene’s daughter committed suicide here by setting fire to herself after Hercules’ departure. At that time, the town was called Illiberis. It them became Castrum Helena, or Elne, by orders of Emperor Constantine, the son of St Helen. In the 6th century, Elne became the seat of a bishopric. Behind his ramparts, built in 1150, the town was a hive of activity and trade flourished. Elne, however stands on the border with Spain and it became the object of rivality first between Roussillon and Catalonia, and between France and Spain. The town was pillaged in 1285 and its population slaughtered in the cathedral. More destruction followed in 1474 and Elne fell into a decline. On 30th June 1602, the bishop moved to Perpignan. Nothing, perhaps, except the arrival of people with a passion for art, but they are given to quiet contemplation. St Eulalie’s Cathedral fascinates them. It was built in the 11th century. It is a basilica with no transept and its crenelated west front Is dominated by a mighty square tower and a brick tower from a more recent period.

PALAU del VIDRE

The crystal Palace and the glassblower magi operate as you enter the place! All of a sudden you understand why is so called! you are completely taken by the atmosphere There are thousands of piecework’s into the rooms. Glasswork is an art and the glassmaker an artist!

CERET

Museum of Modern Art in Céret: The collection of the Museum of Modern Art in Céret bears testimony to this century’s numerous leading artists who came to stay in the capital of the Vallespir. Picasso, Matisse, Chagall donated works to the Museum and, thanks to them, one of France’s major collections was established.