French Catalonia

The French departement of Pyrenees Orientals, also called French Catalonia, is part of Languedoc-Roussillon, the southernmost French region, and was once part of Catalonia. It therefore shares the same history as the Spanish region. The history is found in it's old buildings, it's cuisine and the typical way of life in this area. This charming, unspoilt southern region has so much to offer (beyond 300 days of sunshine a year!) that one can only point out some highlights here. In all houses you will find tourist books, maps and an information pack on the attractions (see below) you can visit.

Within 15 to 30 minutes by car from the houses you can visit:
• Some medieval villages, castles, abbeys
• The lake of Vinça (swimming!)
• The lively city of Prades with one of the oldest churches of France and with lots of restaurants and shops,
there is also a biological (ECO) market every week.
• The station of the ‘train jaune’ (the yellow train, a spectacular mountain train, the highest and longest in France)
• The stalactite caves of Villefranche
• The fortress of Liberia
• The thermal Bath of Molitg les Bains
• The geological monument of Ille sur Tête (the Chimneys of Fairy)
• Many sporting facilities, like canoeing, wild water rafting, horse riding, accompanied nature hikes (also by night)
and 4 wheel drives to the Mont Canigou, to name but a few.

Within 30 to 60 minutes by car from the houses you can visit:
• The thermal baths of St. Thomas
• The beaches of the Mediterranean
• The capital of the Pyrenees Orientales: Perpignan. This lovely city offers some nice museums and   galleries, good-programmed theatres and a great shopping area…
• Various attractions like a butterfly garden, glass-works, whine bottling rooms, museums (like the Museum of Tautavel,   where you will find the skeleton of the oldest man of Europe),..

Within 45 minutes to 1½ hours by car from the houses you can visit:
• The open air swimming paradise ‘Aqualand’ in St. Cyprien
• The impressive 17th century Vauban fortification of Salses
• The upper region of the mountains with animal preserves and the big ski resorts
• The Côte Vermeille with the city of Collioure which is regarded as one of the most beautiful harbours on the   Mediterranean
• More attractions like the wild life Zoo of Sigean, the seawater thalassotherapy treatment facilities in Port Barcares and   the coral reefs of Banyuls (good diving and snorkelling facilities).
• The ‘high rock’ Cathar Castles
• The city of Narbonne with a wonderful old and charming city centre and a beautiful cathedral
• Figueres, the city of the surrealist painter Salvador Dali with an absurd and spectacular museum created by the artist   himself (in Spain)

Within approximately 1½ to 2½ hours drive from the houses you can visit:
• The Spanish metropolis of Barcelona
• Gerona
• Montpellier
• The red city of Toulouse, with it's spectacular theme park 'Cité De L'Espace (Space City). See www.cite-espace.com.
• Carcassonne (city of the Cathars)
• The small mountain country of Andorra

As Pezilla de Conflent is situated on the border with the wine valley of the Fenouillèdes, the distances from this village to the various mentioned attractions might vary slightly from the above. Some northern suggestions to visit are closer, like the Cathar castles, Tautavel or the northern beach area’s. The southern attractions are a little bit further away.

Here is a short film the Pyrénées-Orientales tourist board has released, showing some highlights of the region.





French Catalonia

Pyrénées-Orientales (marked in magenta), part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, is the southernmost departement on mainland France. This area is bordered by the Pyrénées to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. The province is also known as French Catalonia as it was part of Spain until the 17th century.

Click below to view a short film the Pyrénées-Orientales tourist board has released, showing some highlights of the region.