The French Catalan Region around Perpignan:
The coastal plain south and east of Perpignan is where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean and France meets Spain. The majestic 'Pic de Canigou' towers over a region of fruit orchards, vineyards and long sandy beaches. Here in Catalonia the distinctive architecture of hillside and coastal villages and the many vivacious local festivals leave you in no doubt of the fiercly proud and independent Catalan culture. Perpignan, with its impressive citadel and medieval streets is the French Catalan capital. and just 20 minutes drive from St. Cyprien.Stunning Collioure and Banyuls are 15/20 minutes away and a further 15 minutes will take you over the Spanish border. Picasso's Ceret and Dali's Figueras can each be reached within an easy 45 minute drive.
Golf:
Just 2km away is the renowned St. Cyprien Golf club 'Golf International' course. The course is set between lake and sea with the Pyrenees as a backdrop. It has both an 18 hole par 73 6480m main course and a 9 hole par 35 course of 2724m. The main course in particular is challenging with lots of water hazards.
In the Roussillon region there is also the spectacular Domain De Falgos, 18-hole course, par 70 and 5047m, with views overlooking both Mount Canigou in the Pyrenees and also to the CostaBrava in Spain. There are also 9 hole courses at Amelie Les Bains and Camprodon. From the house it is only 30 minutes drive to the border with Spain where you can enjoy the CostaBrava courses at Torremirona Golf Club which has 18 holes with a par of 72 and length of 6245m and Peralada Gold Club which has both an 18 and a 9 hole course and is par 71 with a length of 6704m.
Skiing and mountain walking:
The Pyrennean ski resorts of Pyrenees 2000, Font Romeau, and Les Angles can be reached within about 100 minutes driving or you can take a train from Perpignan, changing to the picturesque 'petit train juane' at the fortified medieval town of Villefranche De Conflent and travelling onward to a choice of mountain ski villages. The area boasts a total of 92 km of prepared piste and 46 gondolas, chairlifts, drags, etc. A top altitude of 2900m at Les Angles makes the area very snow-sure. Unusually, there are very long green slopes to give a real sense of proper skiing to those with little experience while there are still endless blue and red slopes for intermediates and quite a few blacks for the kamikaze crew. Some mountain auberge offer single-night accommodation during the season, allowing you to have two days of skiing and an evening of apres ski for just one journey. Even the duty-free delights of Andorran skiing are reachable to the determined.
Other Activities:
An Aqualand theme park is located less than 3km from the house in St. Cyprien Plage
