There are a large number of places well worth visiting in the region which are only a short drive away.  Many of them can be reached in well under an hour of driving. We keep a large file of leaflets and guides giving information about places of interest in the area so that you can select the places that interest you the most.

Below is a map and a short list of some of these places just to give you a flavour, but it represents only a small proportion of the possibilities. To see more imformation on some of these places you can either click on a name on the map, where your cursor changes to a small hand, or on the underlined place names in the list below.

Andorra is a two hour drive. This trip is along very twisting and winding roads. The reward for making the trip is shopping at tax free prices for perfumes, designer clothes and luxury goods. But be aware that Andorra is not within the EU.

Banyuls-sur -Mer is both an attractive town wrapped around a small Mediterranean bay and a centre for the production of the aperitif wine of the same name, Banyuls

Barcelona, Spain’s second city, is just over two hours  away. The city has a vibrant air which is gained from its art, culture and social life that other cities envy.

Beaches. Several are within a 30 to 40 minute drive of our house. The nearest gay beach is the nudist beach at Bocal-du-Tech, which lies between St. Cyprien and Argèles-Plage. Close by to Bocal-du-Tech there is a water park, Aqualand, with the usual range of water slides and tunnels - but very busy in August. Canet Plage is about 30 mins. drive and offers a long, wide sandy beach. Argelès-Plage(40 mins.) also offers similar long, wide sandy beaches. In both cases, during the summer, the beaches are cleaned every evening and offer a range of daytime activities such as wind surfing, canoeing etc. There are many cafes and restaurants within a few minutes of these beaches where you eat lunch or an evening meal. Both Canet Plage and Argèles Plage.offer night markets during July and August. There are smaller beaches at Collioure (pebbles) and Banyuls-sur-Mer (sand) and a medium sized beach (sand) at St. Cyprien-Plage. .

Camélas, the village is a brisk 30 minute walk or a 5 minute drive, uphill from the house. If you drive on through the village and onto a dirt road you will reach the tiny restored hermitage church of St Martin de Camélas

Castelnou is a medieval hill fort,  now a picturesque chateau, with a restaurant and art gallery atop one of the  most photographed villages in SW France.

Carcassonne is a well known and liked city because it offers both the modern and the ancient. The medieval city, now restored, is one of the best examples of its type and has been used as a backdrop in a number of  feature films. In the summer its narrow streets are crowded with visitors. The modern city is lively and has good shopping and dining facilities.

Collioure was the favourite town for artists such as  Picasso who came here to paint the ‘Cote Vermeille’. Today you will find  artists out on the quay side capturing the scenic beauty of the harbour.

Dali Museum at Figueres is a short drive once you cross  the Spanish border. The museum was once a theatre which burnt down and Dali saw  it as a fitting place to build his museum. There are galleries and open spaces which display the works of Dali as he intended.

Fort de Salses is a military fortress built by the Spanish during the period when Roussillon was part of Spain. It lies about 15 kilometres to the north of Perpignan

Perpignan is a walker’s city because nowhere is far away. There are many cafes and restaurants and interesting small shops located  behind the Castillet. The Palace of the Kings of Majorca looks down over the  city, remembering the time when it was the capital of Catalonia. Every Thursday  in August you are treated to free concerts in many of the city’s squares.

Prades has one of the largest street market in the area which is held on Tuesday mornings. It is also well known for its summer music festival, founded by Pablo Casals.

Prats-de-Mollo is a favourite base for hill walkers. During the summer there are daily re-enactments of battles for the town staged at Fort Lagarde which looks down from its rocky position. Fort Lagarde is open to the public from April to November

Shopping can be enjoyed in the small boutiques of Perpignan to the weekly markets in local towns or the bargains in food and drink which can be found in the Franco-Spanish border town of le Perthus

The Yellow Train runs from Villefranche-de-Conflent up and over the mountains to Latour-de-Carol, the highest point being Mont Louis at  1,600m. The four carriage trains run daily and offer stunning views as the train  clings to the mountainside and crosses wide gorges.

Thuir is the nearest  town to the house and, because of the success of the Byrrh winery, the town has prospered. This prosperity is shown in the amount of effort that goes into the upkeep of this attractive town.

Walking and Cycling actvities are best undertaken in the spring and autumn seasons when it is cooler, and can give vistors to access to some spectacular scenery inaccessible when touring by car.