The Area:
There is a water park, quad biking, water sports and a funfair nearby, a safari park and the vineyards are some of the other attractions within a reasonable traveling distance. Port Barcares lies between the Mediterranean sea and a large lake. The beach is wide and sandy and has an EC Award. The Port has many leisure boats and a good selection of shops and restaurants to visit in the evening.
The region around Perpignan is of great interest, here you can combine a beach holiday with excursions to explore the foothills of the Pyrenees. Villefranche is an interesting town where you can take 'the little yellow train' for a fascinating trip into the Pyrenees. Barcares Village has a regular market with local produce and in Port Barcares there is a a Sea Water Thalassotherapy treatment centre. In July and August the resort throngs with visitors. Cap Leucate is a landmark for both seafarers and migrating birds. It is a popular area for hikers and mountain bikers.
Sightseeing/Eating Out:
Port Barcares is located on the Golfe du Lion & is home to one of the largest marinas on the French Mediterranean coast the other being at nearby Port Leucate. The Superb beach is Blue Flag and 5 Miles long. It is home to the Lydia, a 100 metre Steamship built in 1931 & deliberately run aground in 1967. The Lydia has been converted into a Casino, Restaurant and Nightclub and is extremely popular having its own Miss Lydia elected every two weeks during the summer. The area around Barcares is renowned for its seafood, particularly Oysters which are celebrated with a week long festival in March. Wine Production is as important as fishing in this area which is France's largest wine producing region. August being an essential season for the peninsula where you can taste a wide range of local wines such as Corbiere, Fitou, Muscat de Rivesaltes and Minervois.
The vast beach at Barcares Grand Plage is good for families as there are lifeguards on duty throughout high season & is never crowded
Getting there from the UK and Ireland :
RyanAir fly from Stansted to Perpignan which is 14 miles away. FlyBe fly daily in summer from Birmingham and Southampton to Perpignan. RyanAir fly from Stansted, East Midlands and Liverpool to Gerona (Spain) which is 75 Minutes by car. RyanAir also fly to Carcassone and Toulouse (90 Minutes). British Airways fly to Toulouse from Birmingham. BMI Baby now fly daily from Manchester to Perpignan
RyanAir fly Dublin to Gerona 3 Times a week and have announced a service from Shannon. Aer Lingus Fly to Toulouse. RyanAir have commenced flights from Dublin to Carcassonne which is 90 minutes away.
Irish Ferries sail Rosslare to Cherbourg and Roscoff, and Brittany Ferries from Cork to Cherbourg or Roscoff. Iberia do really cheap flights from Dublin to Barcelona which is a 2 hrs 30 minutes drive, but also a great place to spend a couple of days. 2009 Prices April - May 400 Euro June 450 Euro July - Aug 600Euro September 400 Euro 1st October -31st December Euro350
Other Activities:
Water Park, Lake, historic Castle at Salses), Vineyards, Cities of Perpignan & Narbonne
