Collioure:
A charming and enchanting port village, Collioure is the gem of Roussillon. It is nestled in an idyllic site on the
Mediterranean, north of the Pyrennes and south of pristine Languedoc coastline. It has been a magnet for artists since Matisse settle here in 1905. Narrow cobbled streets, now crowded with galleries, restaurants and boutiques, lead back from its much-painted harbour, framed on one end by the small Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Anges and at the other by The Chateau Royal, an imposing castle built on a former Roman site. Anchovies are the specialty of Collioure, preserved in a traditional method for generations, and featured prominently in many local restaurants. There is also a wonderful local market on Wednesday and Sunday mornings; and wineries abound in the area.
North to Perpignan:
Perpignan, formerly the capital of French Catalonia, always seems buzzing with activity, is the largest city in the area with a population of about 160,000. Its many shops, sites and fine restaurants are patronised as enthusiastically by its well-heeled citizens as by visitors. A lively commercial city, its airport is served by RyanAir via the UK. Nearby Canet-Plage is a long, established seaside resort, with a casino and a long seafront lined with bars, restaurants, shops and apartments. St. Cyprien sports a 3km sandy beach, harbour and marina, Aqualand and an international standard golf course. Argeles-Sur-Mer is an old Catalan village which is animated all year round with its colourful markets and games of petanque (bowls) under the plane trees, as well as the dancing of the Sardane on Mondays during the summer.
South to the Border; Barcelona:
Collioure is located about 2 hours north of Barcelona taking the motorway, or about 3.5 hours along the coastal route. Barcelona is served by most international airlines, including some of the UK 'cut-price' airlines. Port-Vendres, about 5 miles south along the coast from Collioure, is home to many fishing boats and has a well-equipped marina. Banyuls-sur-Mer, with its pale pink and white buildings and shady squares feels distinctly Catalan, and is the home of the sweet, dark brown aperitif, Banyuls, first made there by the Knights of Templar in the 13th century. Cerbere, a quaint border town, huddles around a small pebbly bay. A village not to miss is Ceret, known throughout France for the delicious plump cherries which grown in the local orchards. There are also a number of fine restaurants in Ceret and a Museum of Modern Art. Nearby Le Boulou and Amelie-les-Bains are spa resort towns nearby. Hiking and biking treks throughout the area & skiing in winter.
Golf:
Golf in the Area: There is a 27-hole golf course in St. Cyprien, which is about 15 minutes by car. It costs 31 Euro for 18 holes or 18 Euro for 9 holes; a half-set of clubs (6) costs 7 Euro. They also offer week-end and weekly rates. This is the closest to us; there are about half a dozen courses around Girona, Spain which is about one hour south on the motorway.
Other Activities:
skiing
