Places to visit, outdoor, modern, historic in Roussillon
Places to visit - Modern & Outdoor
Wildlife Park
(Parc Animalier des Angles) Dedicated to showing the past & present animals
of the Pyrenean range in large enclosures (Bears, Wolves, Bison, Marmots etc).
Small waterpark (Espace Aqua-Ludique D'Err) - with heated
water, cascades & large water slides.
Solar Furnace (Four Solaire) Due to the clean air & long
hours of sunshine, this area has two of the most famous Solar ovens in
the world, the first ever in Mont Louis, and the world's most powerful at
Odeillo/Font Romeu.
Lac Bouillouses A beautiful lake which was made a classified
site in 1976. Car access is now restricted during the summer peak season to
avoid damage to the environment, so that the lake & surrounding countryside
can only be reached by walking, ski lifts or by a regular bus service during
this period.
Eus A beautiful hillside village claiming to be one of
the sunniest in France.
Villefranche de Conflent and the scenic journey
on the famous Yellow Train.
Mont Louis The highest fortified
town in France constructed by Vauban for Louis XIV, and has SAS type army
barracks. Mont Louis has a Four Solaire (solar furnace) built in 1953. The
huge mirrors produce temperatures of 6000°C and the Solaire is used for
melting materials in scientific experiments.
Gorge
du Galamus North of the Peach Valley gite at Rodes, lies the Corbierès
region, which has the deep Gorge du Galamus. This gorge has wonderful stone
pools for swimming and canyoning.
St Cyprien-Plage, is one of the more vibrant resorts on the
coast and is situated just south of Canet. It has fancy restaurants, a 27
hole International golf course, superb tennis complex, and a summer chamber
music festival. The old town of St
Cyprien is set back slightly from from the Mediterranean sea and is well
worth a visit.
The market town of
Prades hosts the Pablo Casals music festival in late
July to early August. Prades has the Musée Casalo (Tel: 04 68 05 41
02) which contains Casals' piano, pipes, records, letters, photos etc.
This region was one of the earliest to be inhabited by humans and located
between Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean sea was an extremely important
trade route.
In the middle ages, owing to its situation on the frontier between Spain &
France, it had a turbulent history and was for many centuries a near permanent
battleground. It is therefore an area rich in Military fortifications and
architecture.
The Roussillon region is populated by many abbeys and priories often perched
like eagle's nests, examples include Saint Michel de Cuxa and St Martin de
Canigou, both located near to Prades.
In the early 13th Century, the Cathars, a religious sect, rose against the
Catholic church in South West France. A crusade was launched against them
and they were ruthlessly wiped out. As they retreated they sought refuge in
the chateaux that perch on the hills of the southern Corbieres.
Fortress at Salses Constructed by the Spanish in the late
15th century, the fortress guarded the frontier between Catalonia & France.
It is a rare example of the transition between mediaeval fortified chateau
and bastioned fortifications of the modern era.
Castelnou is a lovely mediaeval village with a 10th century
chateau at the top.
The Cathar castles - Queribus, Peyrepertuse, Lastours located
in impossible positions in wonderfully unusual arid countryside.
Tautavel
Museum - Claimed to be the site of the oldest human in Europe, the museum
and the new exhibition hall have multimedia audiovisual displays & archaeological
rooms.
Belesta Chateau Museum - This museum dedicated to daily activities
of neolithic man.
Abbeys at St Martin de Canigou & St Michel de Cuxa are
superb examples Romanesque architecture in beautiful locations.
Priories at Serrabone & Marcevol are excellent priories
with distinctive architecture in beautiful locations.
Elne Cathedral An 11th century Cathedral with wonderful 12th
to 14th century cloisters.
The Castillet in Perpignan is a little pink marble castle
built in 14th Century.
The Palace of the Kings of Majorca in Perpignan has gothic
architecture and was built in 13th century.
The Royal Palace at Collioure
is a 13th -17th century castle overlooking one of the prettiest ports in France.
For either Gite or B&B accommodation in the Roussillon area please contact
the resident English speaking owners of the Peach Valley gite:
Jolanta & Steve Williams on
Tel: 00 33 4 68 05 96 44
6 Cami Ral, 66320 Rodès, France.
Email us at
enquiry@peachvalley.co.uk
Ver 0.9562 Last updated 23.01.2004 Copyright © PeachValley Holidays 2003, 2004
